Camera apparatus and method including blur detection feature

ABSTRACT

Camera having a sensor for outputting subject image data to perform distance measuring or focusing of the camera, wherein in the event that a comparison is made between subject image data output from the sensor at predetermined intervals, and detection of blurring is performed based of the image offset from the subject image data, the usage range of the subject image data by sensor is made proper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of prior application Ser. No.10/435,938 filed on May 12, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,207, which isbased upon and which claims benefits of Japanese Patent Applications No.2002-137102 filed on May 13, 2002, in Japan, No. 2002-146671 filed onMay 21, 2002, in Japan, No. 2002-156090 filed on May 29, 2002, in Japan,No. 2002-163461 filed on Jun. 4, 2002, in Japan, No. 2002-167386 filedon Jun. 7, 2002, in Japan, No. 2002-181753 filed on Jun. 21, 2002, inJapan, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camera.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, in the event that the user takes a picture with a cameraheld with the hands of the user, the camera may be moved duringexposure, leading to failure in photography, i.e., occurrence ofblurring due to movement of hands. In order to prevent the blurring dueto movement of hands, various prevention-of-vibration methods have beenstudied. The prevention-of-vibration methods include two phase, i.e.,detection of vibration and countermeasures for the detected vibration.

Furthermore, the measures for prevention of blurring due to movement ofhands can be classified into warning methods for giving the user warningof the movement, and methods for preventing deterioration of an image byblurring due to the movement of hands by controlling and drivingphotography lenses. As a warning method of the above-described methods,a camera which suppresses failure by blurring due to movement of handsby providing suitable display means has been proposed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-33870 by the presentassignee, for example.

In general, these warnings are given to the user by lighting or blinkinga display unit provided on the camera so as to let the user recognizeblurring due to the movement of hands.

Furthermore, with the methods for vibration detection, examplesemploying a distance-measuring sensor are disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-165622, andpreviously, in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No.62-27686. For example, with the method disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2001-165622, on the basis of outputfrom two distance-measuring sensors with different sampling timingoutput signals, correlation computation is performed using the data nearthe point where the change of the output signals is great, and theoffset of the image is obtained from the data offset amount wherein thecorrelation is the greatest, whereby detection of the vibration isperformed.

Furthermore, methods, wherein the blurring state of the camera isdetected and the exposure action is started at a timing where theblurring is small, are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 3-92830 and Japanese Patent No. 2603871. Thecontrol for starting exposure at a timing where the blurring is small asdescribed above, will be referred to as “timing control”, or “releasetiming control” hereafter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The camera according to the present invention comprises a sensor foroutputting subject image data to perform distance measuring or focusingof the camera, wherein, in the event that a comparison is made betweensubject image data output from the sensor at predetermined intervals,and detection of blurring is performed based on the image offset amountfrom the subject image data, the usage range of the subject image databy the sensor is made proper.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Thefeatures and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram which illustrates a block configuration of acamera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram which illustrates the principle ofdistance measuring by an AF sensor of the camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3A is a diagram which illustrates a warning pattern exampledisplayed on an LCD in viewfinder of the camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3B is a diagram which illustrates another warning pattern exampledisplayed on an LCD in viewfinder of the camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3C is a diagram which illustrates another warning pattern exampledisplayed on an LCD in viewfinder of the camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3D is a diagram which illustrates another warning pattern exampledisplayed on an LCD in viewfinder of the camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the camera according to the firstembodiment as viewed from the back in an oblique direction.

FIG. 4B is a diagram which illustrates the relation between thegreatness of the movement of the camera according to the firstembodiment and the blinking period of LEDs.

FIG. 4C is a diagram which illustrates a display example in the eventthat notice of the movement of the camera is given according to thecamera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the camera according to the firstembodiment as viewed in a diagonal direction from the front.

FIG. 6A is a diagram which illustrates the relation between image signaland the pixel position with regard to the horizontal shift according tothe camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a diagram which illustrates the relation between the absolutevalue of the difference of image signals and the pixel position withregard to the horizontal shift according to the camera of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 7A is a diagram which illustrates the relation between image signaland the pixel position with regard to the vertical shift according tothe camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a diagram which illustrates the relation between the absolutevalue of the difference of image signals and the pixel position withregard to the vertical shift according to the camera of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 8A is a diagram which illustrates an example of the change in themonitoring range of the AF sensor of the camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 8B is a diagram which illustrates another example of the change inthe monitoring range of the AF sensor of the camera according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 9A is a diagram which illustrates the offset amount of the imagesignals in the horizontal direction as to the moved amount in thehorizontal direction according to the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9B is a diagram which illustrates the offset amount of the imagesignals in the vertical direction as to the moved amount in the verticaldirection according to the camera of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart which indicates judgment control for blurring dueto the movement of hands in the camera according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart which indicates judgment control procedure forblurring due to the movement of hands in a CPU of the camera of thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart which indicates judgment control procedure forblurring due to the movement of hands in the CPU of the camera of thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 13A is a perspective view which illustrates an externalconfiguration of a camera according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13B is a configuration diagram which illustrates the dispositionrelation between a rigid printed board and a flexible printed board,employed in the camera of the second embodiment.

FIG. 14A is a block circuit diagram of the camera according to thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 14B is a diagram which illustrates the disposition direction of anacceleration IC of the camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15A is an explanatory diagram which illustrates a manufacturingprocess example for the acceleration IC of the camera according to thesecond embodiment, and is a diagram which illustrates a first process.

FIG. 15B is an explanatory diagram which illustrates a manufacturingprocess example for the acceleration IC of the camera according to thesecond embodiment, and is a diagram which illustrates a second process.

FIG. 15C is an explanatory diagram which illustrates a manufacturingprocess example for the acceleration IC of the camera according to thesecond embodiment, and is a diagram which illustrates a third process.

FIG. 15D is an explanatory diagram which illustrates a manufacturingprocess example for the acceleration IC of the camera according to thesecond embodiment, and is a diagram which illustrates a fourth process.

FIG. 15E is an explanatory diagram which illustrates a manufacturingprocess example for the acceleration IC of the camera according to thesecond embodiment, and is a diagram which illustrates a fifth process.

FIG. 16A is a diagram which illustrates a specific configuration of theacceleration IC of the camera according to the second embodiment, and isa configuration diagram on a silicon substrate.

FIG. 16B is a diagram which illustrates a specific configuration of theacceleration IC of the camera according to the second embodiment, and isa configuration perspective view of the silicon substrate includingmovable electrodes and arm units.

FIG. 16C is a diagram which illustrates a specific configuration of theacceleration IC of the camera according to the second embodiment, and isa configuration diagram which illustrates an IC configuration includinga processing circuit formed on the silicon substrate.

FIG. 17A is a block diagram which illustrates an acceleration judgmentprocessing circuit of the camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17B is a diagram which illustrates an output waveform from theacceleration judgment processing circuit of the camera according to thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 18A is a diagram which illustrates the user holding the cameraaccording to the second embodiment.

FIG. 18B is a diagram which indicates the vibration detection directionof the camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 19A is a properties diagram which indicates the relation betweentime and the acceleration property depending on the moved distance ofthe camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 19B is another properties diagram which indicates the relationbetween time and the acceleration property depending on the moveddistance of the camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 20A is a diagram which illustrates the operational procedure fordetection of the vibration of the camera and a display example accordingto the second embodiment.

FIG. 20B is a diagram which illustrates the operational procedure fordetection of the vibration of the camera and a display example accordingto the second embodiment.

FIG. 20C is a diagram which illustrates the operational procedure fordetection of the vibration of the camera and a display example accordingto the second embodiment.

FIG. 20D is a diagram which illustrates the operational procedure fordetection of the vibration of the camera and a display example accordingto the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram which illustrates a configuration ofdisplay segments within an LCD of the camera according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 22A is a flowchart for describing display control with regard tothe holding check mode function of the camera according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 22B is a flowchart for describing display control with regard tothe holding check mode function of the camera according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart which indicates a subroutine for movementdetection processing according to the camera of the second embodiment.

FIG. 24A is a diagram for describing a window-shift method for thecorrelation computation according to the camera of the secondembodiment.

FIG. 24B is a diagram for describing a window-shift method for thecorrelation computation according to the camera of the secondembodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram which illustrates a correlation data chart forindicating a correlation value as to each shift according to the cameraof the second embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart which indicates a subroutine for movementdetection processing according to a camera of a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 27A is a flowchart for describing display control according to acamera of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27B is a flowchart for describing display control according to thecamera of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28A is a diagram which illustrates the usage range of the imagesignals used for distance measuring on the short focus side according tothe camera of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 28B is a diagram which illustrates the usage range of the imagesignals used for distance measuring on the long focus side according tothe camera of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 28C is a diagram which illustrates the usage range of the imagesignals used for detection of blurring due to the movement of hands onthe short focus side according to the camera of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 28D is a diagram which illustrates the usage range of the imagesignals used for detection of blurring due to the movement of hands onthe long focus side according to the camera of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 29A is a flowchart for describing display control according to acamera of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29B is a flowchart for describing display control according to thecamera of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30A is a diagram which illustrates the usage range of the imagesignals used for detection of blurring due to the movement of hands onthe short focus side according to the camera of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 30B is a diagram which illustrates the usage range of the imagesignals used for detection of blurring due to the movement of hands onthe long focus side according to the camera of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 30C is a diagram which illustrates the usage range of the imagesignals used for detection of blurring due to the movement of hands onthe long focus side in a case of low contrast according to the camera ofthe fifth embodiment.

FIG. 31A is a diagram which illustrates a basic conceptual configurationof a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31B is a diagram which illustrates an example having exposure startdetermination means as an example of a blurring-due-to-movement-of-handsreduction unit in FIG. 31A.

FIG. 31C is a diagram which illustrates an example having an opticalsystem driving unit serving as a blurring-due-to-movement-of-handsreduction unit in FIG. 31A.

FIG. 31D is a diagram which illustrates an example having an imagepickup device driving unit as a blurring-due-to-movement-of-handsreduction unit in FIG. 31A.

FIG. 32 is a configuration diagram which illustrates main components ofthe camera according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view which illustrates the external view of thecamera of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a diagram which illustrates a configuration example of asituation display device provided within a viewfinder of the cameraaccording to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a diagram which illustrates a display example of a blurringnotifying unit of the camera according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a diagram which indicates the relation between the generatedimage blurred amount and the notifying format according to the camera ofthe sixth embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart for describing the overall operation of thecamera according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart for describing the overall operation of thecamera according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart which indicates key processing according to thecamera of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart which indicates key processing according to thecamera of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart which indicates key processing according to thecamera of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart which indicates movement notifying processingaccording to the camera of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart which indicates movement notifying processingaccording to the camera of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 44 is a diagram which illustrates a display example of the blurringnotifying unit of the camera according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 45A is a flowchart which indicates exposure start determinationprocessing according to the camera of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 45B is a flowchart which indicates exposure start determinationprocessing according to the camera of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart which indicates zero-cross judgment processingaccording to the camera of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 47 is a diagram, using waveforms, which illustrates an operationexample of zero-cross judgment processing according to the camera of thesixth embodiment.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Description will be made below in detail regarding embodiments accordingto the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Description will be made with reference to FIG. 1 illustrating a blockconfiguration of a camera according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

With the configuration, the camera comprises a CPU 1 for controlling theentire camera, an IFIC 2, memory (EEPROM) 3 for storing the data foradjusting, a photometry unit 4, an autofocus (AF) unit 5, an autofocus(AF) sensor 6, a liquid crystal display device (LCD) 7 for displayingthe setting state of the camera and the information with regard tophotography, LCD8 in viewfinder which is provided within a finder anddisplays the information with regard to photography, a strobe circuit 9including a light-emission tube for emitting auxiliary light or thelike, a main capacitor 10 for holding charges for energizing thelight-emission tube, an photography lens 11 having a zoom function, awarning display unit 12 including LEDs, a resistance 13 seriallyconnected to the warning display unit 12, switches (release switches) 14a and 14 b for starting a photography sequence of the camera, a modeswitching switch 15 for setting the blurring-due-to-movement-of-handsdetection mode, a flash mode switch 16 for changing the stroboscopicemission mode of the camera, a motor 18 for driving drive-mechanisms forthe photography lens, shutter, feeding of films, and the like, arotational blade 19 which rotates in interlocking to the motor 18, and aphoto-interrupter 17 for optically detecting apertures of the rotationalblade 19 which rotates to drive and control the motor 18.

Note that an arrangement may be made wherein a switching mechanismswitches the drive mechanism to be driven such that one motor 18 candrive each of the driving mechanisms such as a shutter 20, a zoom lensframe, and the like, or an arrangement may be made wherein eachmechanism has an individual motor.

With the configuration, the CPU 1 performs the photography sequenceaccording to the operated state of the release switches 14 a and 14 b.That is to say, the CPU 1 gives a warning display by LCD8 in theviewfinder which gives a warning of blurring due to movement of handsaccording to the output from the AF sensor 6, and also the CPU 1 drivesthe AF unit 5 and the photometry unit 4 which measures luminance of thesubject for controlling exposure at the time of taking a picture, andreceives necessary signals so as to control the motor 18 through theaforementioned IFIC 2. In this time, the rotation of the motor 18 istransmitted to the rotational blade 19. Multiple apertures are formed onthe rotational blade 19 and the photo-interrupter 17 outputs the signalscorresponding to the presence or absence of the apertures, and the IFIC2 adjusts the waveform of the output signals and outputs to the CPU 1.The CPU 1 monitors the rotational state of the motor 18 based on thesignals output from the IFIC 2. Furthermore, the CPU 1 performs emissionof the auxiliary light with the strobe circuit 9 as necessary.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for describing the principle ofdistance measuring by the AF sensor 6. Note that the AF sensor 6comprises a pair of photo-receiving lenses 6 a and a pair of sensorarrays 6 b.

The one pair of photo-receiving lenses 6 a are disposed at positionsseparated by a distance B which constitutes the length between principalpoints (base length) one from another so as to form images of a subject21 on the one pair of the sensor arrays 6 b. The sensor array 6 bcomprises multiple pixels (photo-receiving elements) arrayed in thedirection of the base length of the one pair of the photo-receivinglenses 6 a. The sensor array 6 b outputs the electric signals accordingto the luminance of the image of the subject 21 formed on the sensorarray 6 b by the photo-receiving lens 6 a, whereby the image signals areformed.

In this case, the image signals, e.g., image signals 22 are formed atdifferent positions on the one pair of the sensor arrays 6 b dependingon the parallax of the photo-receiving lenses 6 a. Thus, the relativeposition difference x between the two image signals 22 is detected,thereby obtaining the distance to the subject L with the followingprinciple equation of the trigonometric measuringL=Bf/x.Here, f indicates the focal distance of the photo-receiving lens 6 a.

Note that the image signals output from the sensor arrays 6 b are usedfor calculation of the distance to the subject, and also are used forjudgment as to the movement of the camera. The judgment as to themovement will be described later.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D illustrate examples of warning patterns asdisplay examples for being displayed on the LCD8 in the viewfinder. AnLCD in viewfinder for displaying a picture for the panorama mode, blackout display indicating a shutter shut-off, and the like, also serves asthe LCD8 in the viewfinder.

FIG. 3A is a diagram which illustrates a first display example of anotice of movement. The shielding pattern formed of the picture A andpicture C shown in FIG. 3A is a shielding pattern which is displayedwhen setting the camera for panorama photography, and is used fornotifying of movement. That is to say, a sequence wherein first of all,as shown in the picture A, shielding is performed on only the upperregion, next, as shown in the picture B, shielding is performed at onlythe middle region which is an photography region for the panoramaphotography, and finally, as shown in the picture C, shielding isperformed on only the lower region of the panorama shielding portion, isrepeatedly performed. The display sequence is repeatedly performed, andthus the user who looks through the viewfinder can recognize blurring isoccurring due to movement of hands. Note that shielding with thepatterns A, B, and C, at the same time, forms a blackout display.

With the above-described display, the viewfinder screen movement can berepresented, and in the event that the user steadies the camera and theblurring due to movement of hands stops, a display is made for thenormal mode or the panorama mode, and the monitoring of the subject canbe made.

Subsequently, description will be made regarding a second example of anotice of the movement with reference to FIG. 3B. FIG. 3B illustrates anexample of notice of movement, by stages according to the magnitude ofthe movement. Now, let us say that notice is given in four stages, andin the event that the movement is the least, no picture is displayed onthe LCD8 in the viewfinder as shown in a-0. Next, in the event themovement is greater by one stage, shielding is performed on only thelower region of the LCD as shown in a-1. Furthermore, in the event thatthe movement is greater by further one stage, shielding is performed onthe lower region and the middle region of the LCD, as shown in a-2.Moreover, in the event that the movement is greater by further onestage, shielding is performed on all the region of the LCD, as shown ina-3. That is to say, display shown in a-0 through a-3 is performedaccording to the magnitude of the movement occurring at that time,thereby giving notices in stages according to the magnitude of themovement.

Next, description will be made regarding a third example of a notice ofthe movement with reference to FIG. 3C. FIG. 3C illustrates an examplewherein notice of the movement is given in an on/off manner. That is tosay, in this case, notice of the movement is given as topresence/absence of the movement. In the event of absence of themovement (the magnitude of the movement is equal to or less than apredetermined value), no display is performed on the LCD8 in theviewfinder. Conversely, in the event that the movement is great (themovement is greater than the predetermined value), shielding isperformed on the upper region and the lower region of the LCD8 in theviewfinder as shown b-1. Thus, notice of the movement is performed in anon/off manner according to the presence or absence of the movement bydisplaying two kinds of pictures as shown in b-0 and b-1.

FIG. 3D illustrates a fourth example of notice of the movement which isdisplayed on the LCD 8 in the viewfinder.

As shown in FIG. 3D, with the display example, the shielding regionsdisplayed at the setting time for panorama photography are used in thesame way as the patterns described with reference to FIG. 3A. That is tosay, the upper and lower shielding regions are alternately displayed asthe picture A and picture C. With the pattern, the user can observe theimage of the subject at the middle region of the screen all the time,unlike the warning pattern shown in FIG. 3A, so when in the panoramaphotography mode, the user can recognize the expressions of the subjector the like. Furthermore, the pattern is blinked, so, unlike the normaldisplay, the warning display gives a warning in a sure manner, therebypreventing the user from misunderstanding.

FIGS. 4A and 5 illustrate external views of a configuration example ofthe camera having such a blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detectionmode. Here, FIG. 4A illustrates a configuration as viewed from the backside of the camera, and FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration as vieweddiagonally from the front side. Description will be made regarding theoperations for notifying of occurrence of blurring due to the movementof hands by using holding checking and with reference to these drawings.Also, description will be made regarding a fifth example of notifyingdisplay of the movement wherein notifying is performed not using theaforementioned LCD8 in the viewfinder.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a finder eyepiece unit 32 is provided on the backface of the camera 31, and light-emitting diodes (LED) 33 are providedon the side thereof. In the event of occurrence of blurring due to themovement of hands, these two LEDs 33 are blinked at the same time or inan alternate manner. Thus, the user can recognize the notice even in theevent that the user has the camera ready to shoot.

In a case of performing notifying of the movement in multiple stagesusing these two LEDs 33 as described above, the blinking cycle of theLEDs is changed, for example. FIG. 4B indicates the relation between themagnitude of the movement and the blinking period of the LEDs. In theevent that the movement is the least, the blinking period of the LEDs 33is made the longest as shown in a-0. The blinking period may be madearound 0.5 sec, for example. Subsequently, the greater the movement is,the shorter the blinking period is gradually made, and furthermore, inthe event that the movement is greater than a predetermined value, theblinking period is made the shortest as shown in a-3. At this time, theblinking cycle may be around 0.1 sec, for example. That is to say, theblinking cycle of the LEDs 33 is changed according to the magnitude ofthe movement, thereby giving a notice of the movement with a stage.

Furthermore, FIG. 4C illustrates an example of giving a notice of themovement in an on/off manner described above. That is to say, in theevent of absence of the movement, both LEDs 33 are not turned on asshown in b-0. On the other hand, in the event of the presence of themovement, both LEDs 33 are turned on as shown in b-1. Thus, notifying ofthe movement in an on/off manner is performed with the two kinds of LEDdisplay.

As described above, in the event that the user recognizes the noticedisplayed on the LCD8 in the viewfinder, or the notice given by the LEDs33, the user can prevent the movement of the camera by holding thecamera tightly with both hands, instead of one hand (e.g., right hand),by also using the left hand, or the like.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4A, a mode displaying LCD7, a mode settingswitch 15, and a release button 14, and the like, are provided on thetop face of the camera 31.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, an photography lens barrel 34 isprovided on the front face of the camera 31, and a viewfinderobjective-lens unit 35, a photo-receiving window 36 within which theaforementioned AF sensor 6 and the photo-receiving lenses of thephotometry unit 4 are provided, a strobe emission unit 37, and aself-timer LED 38, are provided on the upper side thereof. In the eventof occurrence of blurring due to the movement of hands, the LED 38 isblinked along with the LED 33, so even in the event that the user is infront of the camera as a subject, making a request to another person fortaking a picture of the user, the user can recognize occurrence of theblurring due to movement of hands, and thus the user can let the personknow the fact. At this time, in the event of giving a notice of theblurring due to movement of hands with a stage using the LED 38, theblinking period of the LED 38 is changed in stages according to themagnitude of the movement, as described above. On the other hand, in acase of giving a notice of the movement in an on/off manner, in theevent that the magnitude of the movement is equal to or less than apredetermined value, the LED 38 is turned off, and conversely, in theevent that the magnitude of the movement is greater than thepredetermined value, the LED 38 is turned on.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, a barrier 39 is slidably provided onthe front face of the camera 31 for covering the photography lens barrel34, the viewfinder objective-lens unit 35, and the like. Note that anarrangement may be made wherein the barrier 39 serves as a power supplyswitch of the camera, as well, i.e., in the event that the barrier 39 isopened, the power supply is turned on, and the collapsed photographylens barrel 34 is extended up to a predetermined position, and enables apicture to be taken, and in the event of starting to close the barrier39, the photography lens barrel 34 is collapsed within the camera 31,and the power supply is turned off.

Furthermore, an arrangement may be made wherein the aforementioned LEDs33 provided near the viewfinder eyepiece unit 32 on the back side of thecamera 31 serve as an LED for performing a display when charging thestrobe, and when AF focusing, which are conventional functions.

Furthermore, an arrangement may be made wherein, following theblurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection mode being set, in the eventthat the movement occurs due to unstable holding by the user having thecamera, the LCD8 in viewfinder is blinked as described above, or theLEDs 33 near the viewfinder eyepiece unit 32 of the camera are blinkedas shown in FIG. 4A, thereby giving a notice of the movement.

Next, description will be made regarding ablurring-due-to-movement-of-hands judgment method by outputting imagefrom the AF sensor 6 for the camera having the above-describedconfiguration.

FIG. 6A illustrates the relation between the image signals and the pixelposition for the horizontal shift, and FIG. 6B illustrates the relationbetween the absolute value of the difference and the pixel position forthe horizontal shift. FIG. 7A illustrates the relation between the imagesignals and the pixel position for the vertical shift, and FIG. 7Billustrates the relation between the absolute value of the differenceand the pixel position for the vertical shift.

As shown in FIG. 5, the photo-receiving lens 6 a is arranged in thehorizontal direction on the front of the camera 31. That is to say, in acase that the base length direction is taken in the horizontal directionof the camera, in the event that the camera 31 is moved in thehorizontal direction as shown in FIG. 8A, the monitor range 42 of the AFsensor 6 is changed into the monitor range 41. At this time, the imagesignals of the person 21 as a subject is changed in the horizontaldirection, i.e., in the arrangement direction of the AF sensor 6,between the timing t₁ prior to the camera being moved and the timing t₂following the camera being moved, as shown in FIG. 6A. Accordingly, theoffset amount ΔX between the image signals is detected, therebydetermining generally quantitative magnitude of the movement.

On the other hand, in the event that the camera 31 is moved in thevertical direction as shown in FIG. 8B, the monitor range 42 of the AFsensor 6 is changed into the monitor range 43. At this time, themonitored position itself is changed, that is to say, prior to themovement, monitoring is performed around the eyes of the person 21 inthe monitor range 42, for example, but following the movement,monitoring is performed around the mouth of the person 21 in the monitorrange 43, for example, so a great change is caused in the image signalssuch that the shape of the image signals itself is changed, between thetiming t₁ prior to the camera being vibrated and the timing t₂ followingthe camera being vibrated, as shown in FIG. 7A.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7B, by differentiating between the imagesignals for each pixel at the timing prior to the change in the imagesignals and the timing following the change in the image signals,judgment can be made whether or not the change occurs in the imagesignals. That is to say, using the maximal change value ΔI_(MAX) in theimage signals, the maximal change value ΔI_(MAX) is compared with apredetermined value ΔI₀ which has been set beforehand, thereby makingjudgment whether or not the camera has moved, i.e., making judgment asto the presence or absence of the movement. Note that, in this case, theuser can obtain only information with regard to the presence or absenceof the movement, but cannot obtain information with regard to themagnitude of the movement.

Furthermore, in the event that the movement component is great in thehorizontal direction of the camera, ΔI_(MAX) cannot be used for judgmentof the movement. That is to say, in a case that the movement componentis great in the horizontal direction, even in the event that the actualmovement is small in the vertical direction, the output image signalfrom the same pixel is greatly changed as shown in FIG. 6B, so ΔI_(MAX)is obtained as a great value. Accordingly, with the method whereinjudgment is made as to ΔI_(MAX), in a case of the movement componentbeing great in the horizontal direction of the camera, even in the eventthat the actual movement is small in the vertical direction, judgment ismade that the movement has occurred in the vertical direction.

Accordingly, with the first embodiment, in the event that movement whichis not negligible as compared with the vertical movement is detected inthe horizontal direction, judgment is not made as to the movement basedon ΔI_(MAX), and judgment as to the movement is made by obtaining thesuitable relation between the change in the image signals and the movedamount. Thus, judgment as to the movement with high reliability can bemade.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the relations between the offset amount ofthe image signal and the moved amount. FIG. 9A illustrates the offsetamount of the image signals in the horizontal direction as to the movedamount in the horizontal direction, and FIG. 9B illustrates the offsetamount of the image signals in the vertical direction as to the movedamount in the vertical direction. That is to say, in the event that themovement occurs in the horizontal direction, the offset amount ΔXbetween the image signals at this time is generally proportional to themoved amount in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, in theevent that the movement occurs in the vertical direction, ΔI_(MAX)exhibits saturation in the region exceeding a predetermined value ΔM.

Note that the offset amount ΔX between the image signals is a valuewhich indicates how many pixels the image signal is offset on the sensorarray 6 b. It is needless to say that an arrangement may be made whereinthe offset length on the subject corresponding to the offset amount ΔXis obtained from the offset amount ΔX and the distance to the subject.Description will be made below, with the offset amount ΔX as the numberof the pixels by which the image signals are offset.

Description will be made regarding judgment control of the camera withthe blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands judgment method according to thepresent embodiment with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 10.

First of all, upon the user opening the barrier 39 of the camera shownin FIG. 5 (Step S1), an unshown power supply switch is turned oninterlocking to the action of the barrier 39, and the photography lensbarrel 34 of the camera is extended up to a predetermined position, andinitialization is made such that the configuration can take a picture.Accompanying the initialization, the flow proceeds to a sequence fordetecting the movement of the camera due to the movement of hands or thelike, and giving a warning display for blurring due to the movement ofhands. First of all, image signals output from the pixels are detected,as described above (Step S2). Subsequently, the image signal I1 at theregion where the difference between the image signals output fromadjacent pixels exhibits the maximal value, i.e., the greatest change ofthe image signals (great contrast) is obtained (Step S3).

Next, following elapsing of a predetermined time period, as describedabove (Step S4), image signals are detected again (Step S5). In the sameway as in Step S3, the image signal I2 at the region where thedifference between the image signals output from adjacent pixelsexhibits the maximal value, i.e., the greatest change of the imagesignals is obtained (Step S6). Using the obtained image signals I1 andI2, the horizontally moved amount ΔX (see FIG. 6A) is detected (StepS7).

Next, the horizontally moved amount ΔX is compared with a predeterminedvalue X₀ (Step S8), and in the event that the horizontally moved amountΔX is equal to or greater than the predetermined value X₀ (YES), awarning display of the horizontal movement being great is given (StepS12). The predetermined value X₀ has been determined as a standardwherein the movement does not influence the photography. Note thatdescription has been made regarding the warning display methods withreference to FIG. 3A through FIG. 5, or the like, so further descriptionwill be omitted. On the other hand, in the event that the horizontallymoved amount is small, or is not detected (NO), judgment is made whetheror not the horizontally moved amount ΔX is less than 1 (Step S9), and inthe event that the horizontally moved amount ΔX is less than 1 (YES),the maximal difference value ΔI_(MAX) between the image signals I1 andI2 is detected for each pixel (Step S10). Conversely, in the event thatthe horizontally moved amount ΔX is equal to or greater than 1 (NO), theflow proceeds to a sequence for releasing in Step S13 as describedlater.

That is to say, in this flow, in the event that the horizontally movedamount Δx is equal to or greater than a value corresponding to one pixelof the sensor array 6 b, margin of error from the vertical movementcould be great, so that judgment is not made as to the verticalmovement. Thus, speedup of the processing can be realized. Note that anarrangement may be made wherein judgment in Step S9 is made asnecessary.

Next, the detected maximal difference value ΔI_(MAX) is compared withthe predetermined value ΔI₀ (Step S11), and in the event that themaximal difference value ΔI_(WAX) is greater than the predeterminedvalue ΔI₀ (YES), a warning display is given (Step S12). Conversely, inthe event that the maximal difference value ΔI_(MAX) is equal to or lessthan the predetermined value ΔI₀ (NO), the flow proceeds to the releasesequence, and judgment is made whether or not the release switch 14 ispressed (Step S13), and in the event that judgment is made that therelease switch 14 is pressed (YES), a warning display ends (Step S14).

Subsequently, upon the release switch 14 being pressed, distancemeasuring is made (Step S15), and judgment is made whether or not theresults of the distance measuring is suitable for focusing (Step S16),and in the event of OK (YES), focusing is performed (Step S17), and theflow proceeds to an exposure sequence (Step S19). Conversely, in theevent that the result of distance measuring is not suitable for focusing(NO), a warning display is given (Step S18). Note that an arrangementmay be made wherein in the event that the suitable results of distancemeasuring is not obtained, the flow may not proceed to the exposuresequence immediately, but following distance measuring being performedagain, or the photography lens being set up at a predetermined focalposition, the flow may proceed to the exposure sequence.

The user tightly holds the camera such that warning of blurring due tothe movement of hands is not given, and takes a picture while observingthese warning displays, thereby taking a picture without blurring due tothe movement of hands. On the other hand, in the event that the releaseswitch 14 is not pressed in the above-described Step S13 (NO), the flowreturns to Step S1, and judgment as to the blurring due to the movementof hands is repeatedly performed.

As described above, with the first embodiment, using the sensor whichcan detect the change in the image position only in the horizontaldirection, the relation among small and large sizes of the change in thevertical direction is accurately detected, whereby judgment with highreliability with regard to the blurring due to the movement of hands canbe performed.

Subsequently, description will be made regarding a case wherein a noticeis given according to the moved amount as described in FIGS. 4B and 4C,with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. FIGS. 11 and 12show flowcharts which describe the procedure wherein the CPU within thecamera judges and controls for performing such judgment with regard toblurring due to the movement of hands. Note that, while in this case,description will be made regarding an example that a notice is givenusing the LCD8 in viewfinder, an arrangement may be made in the sameway, except only the notice method, wherein a notice is given using theLED 33.

First of all, the CPU 1 judges whether or not the barrier 39 of thecamera is opened (Step S21). In the event that judgment is made that thebarrier 39 is not opened, the flow stands by until the barrier 39 isopened.

On the other hand, in the event that judgment is made that the barrier39 is opened, the image of the subject 21 formed by the photo-receivinglens 6 a is detected (Step S22). Subsequently,region-of-maximal-adjacent-signal-difference judgment, wherein theregion where the difference between the image signals output from theadjacent pixels exhibits the maximal value, i.e., the contrast exhibitsthe maximal value, is judged, is performed, and the image signal I₁ inthe region is detected (Step S23). Note that the timing for detectingthe image signal I₁ is the above-described timing t₁ in the region. Notethat the image signal is detected in the region which exhibits thegreatest contrast so that the following judgment is readily made.

Next, after waiting for a predetermined time period so as to make atiming t₂ for the second image signal detection (Step S24), the image ofthe subject 21 is detected again (Step S25). Next,region-of-maximal-adjacent-signal-difference judgment, wherein theregion where the contrast is the greatest between the adjacent pixels isjudged, is performed, and the image signal I₂ is detected at the region(Step S26).

Following detection of the image signals I₁ and I₂, the detected signalsI₁ and I₂ are compared with each other. First of all, the image offsetamount ΔX is detected for judgment with regard to the movement of thecamera in the horizontal direction (Step S27). Subsequently, judgment ismade whether or not the detected ΔX is greater than the predeterminedvalue X0 (Step S28).

In the event that judgment is made that ΔX is greater than thepredetermined value X0, a notice is given with regard to the movement ofthe camera in the horizontal direction. Note that, in this case, anotice is given, graded according to the movement, as described above.Accordingly, first of all, judgment is made whether or not the detectedΔX is greater than a predetermined value X1 (Step S29). In the eventthat judgment is made that ΔX is equal to or less than the predeterminedvalue X1, a notice as described with reference to a-1is given, i.e.,display wherein shielding is performed on the lower region of the LCD8in viewfinder is made (Step S30), and subsequently, the flow proceeds toStep S38.

Conversely, in the event that judgment is made that ΔX is greater thanthe predetermined value X1 in judgment in the above-described Step S29,judgment is made whether or not ΔX is greater than a predetermined valueX2 (Step S31). In the event that judgment is made that ΔX is equal to orless than the predetermined value X2, the notice as described in a-2isgiven, i.e., display wherein shielding is performed on the lower regionand at the middle region of the LCD8 in viewfinder is made (Step S32),and subsequently, the flow proceeds to Step S38.

On the other hand, in the event that judgment is made that ΔX is greaterthan the predetermined value X2 in judgment in the above-described StepS31, the notice as described in a-3is given, i.e., display whereinshielding is performed on all the region of the LCD8 in viewfinder (StepS33), and subsequently, the flow proceeds to Step S38.

On the other hand, in the event that judgment is made that ΔX is equalto or less than the predetermined value X0 in judgment in theabove-described Step S28, a notice is given with regard to the movementof the camera in the vertical direction. Note that, in this case, onlythe information with regard to the presence or absence of the movementcan be obtained, so a notice of the movement in the vertical directionis given in an on/off manner, as described above. Accordingly, first ofall, the maximal absolute value of the difference ΔI_(MAX) between theimage signals I₁ and I₂ for each pixel (Step S34). Subsequently,judgment is made whether or not the detected ΔI_(MAX) is greater thanthe predetermined value ΔI₀ (Step S35). In the event that judgment ismade that ΔI_(MAX) is greater than the predetermined value ΔI₀, judgmentis made that the movement is “presence”, and the notice as describedwith reference to b-1is given, i.e., display wherein shielding isperformed on the upper region and the lower region of the LCD8 inviewfinder is made (Step S36), and subsequently, the flow proceeds toStep S38.

On the other hand, in the event that judgment is made that ΔI_(MAX) isequal to or less than the predetermined value ΔI₀ in judgment in theabove-described Step 35, it is judged that any movement does not existand does not perform displaying on the LCD8 in viewfinder (Step 37), andsubsequently, the flow proceeds to Step S38. Note that theaforementioned Step S37 corresponds to the notice a-0 or the notice b-0,described above.

Following giving either notice, judgment is made whether or not therelease button 14 is pressed (Step S38). In the event that judgment ismade that the release button 14 is not pressed, the flow returns to theabove-described Step S21, and operation control for notifying ofmovement is repeatedly performed until the release button 14 is pressed.

Conversely, in the event that judgment is made that the release button14 is pressed in judgment in the above-described Step S38, display ofnotice of the movement ends (Step S39), and subsequently, a photographysequence is started. First of all, distance measuring wherein thedistance to the subject is calculated is performed (Step S40).Subsequently, judgment is made whether or not the accurate results ofdistance measuring have been obtained (Step S41). In the event thatjudgment is made that accurate results of distance measuring have notbeen obtained due to the movement of the camera, a notice is given againas described above (Step S42). The user recognizes the notice, and thusthe user can take countermeasures as to the movement, e.g., the user cantightly hold the camera. Following such notice being given, the exposuresequence is started. Note that known methods may be applied to thecontrol for the exposure sequence, so description will be omitted.

On the other hand, in the event that judgment is made that the accurateresults of distance measuring have been obtained in judgment in theabove-described Step S41, focusing of the photography lens barrel 34 isperformed (Step S43), and the subsequent exposure sequence is started.

As described above, with the first embodiment, using the AF sensor whichcan detect the change in the position of the camera only in the onedirection, accurate detection can be made with regard to the change inthe position in the direction orthogonal thereto, as well, therebyenabling judgment with high reliability as to the movement to be made.

As described above, description has been made based on the firstembodiment, the present invention is not restricted to the firstembodiment, but rather, it is needless to say that various modificationsand applications can be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

As described above in detail, the present first embodiment provides acamera with low costs wherein using a sensor array positioned in thebase-length direction, accurate detection is made with regard to themovement in the direction orthogonal thereto, as well, thereby giving awarning of blurring due to the movement of hands according to judgmentwith high reliability with regard to blurring due to the movement ofhands.

Note that, as described above, in the event that judgment is made as toblurring due to the movement of hands based on the image offset amountfrom the subject image data obtained from a linear line sensor,detection of the blurring due to the movement of hands can be easilymade with a simple configuration. However, since there is no relationbetween the amount of blurring due to the movement of hands in thevertical direction and the image offset amount, the present firstembodiment has an aspect that the detection of blurring due to themovement of hands in the direction orthogonal to the array direction ofthe linear sensor is difficult.

Accordingly, description will be made below regarding an arrangementwherein detection of the blurring due to the movement of hands can bemade with higher precision (second embodiment) with reference to thedrawings.

Description of Second Embodiment:

A camera having a function of detection of blurring due to the movementof hands according to a present second embodiment comprises liquidcrystal display means for displaying the photography range (field ofviewfinder) in the photography mode, provided in the viewfinder of thecamera, with the change in the transmissivity of light, and movementdetection means for detecting the vibration of the camera and givinginformation with regard to occurrence of blurring due to the movement ofhands, including the aforementioned distance-measuring sensor, and alsoa monolithic accelerometer. Techniques are employed in the presentembodiment, wherein in the event that the blurring due to the movementof hands occurs, transmissivity of light on the display region of theliquid crystal display means is changed so as to form patterned display,thereby facilitating the user easily recognizing the occurrence of theblurring due to the movement of hands.

The aforementioned monolithic accelerometer is formed as an IC chip, andis a device wherein the acceleration is measured using the change in thecapacitance generated between the movable pattern and the unmovablepattern, and with the second embodiment of the present invention, anarrangement disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 8-178954, or the like, may be employed, for example.With the configuration, both the patterns are formed of polysilicon on asilicon substrates, wherein one electrode is movably formedcorresponding to acceleration, and another electrode is formed in afixed manner against acceleration, so as to form a pair of capacitors.In the event that such silicon substrate is accelerated, the capacitanceof one capacitor is increased, and the capacitance of another capacitoris decreased. A signal processing circuit is necessary for convertingthe difference of the capacitance into a voltage signal, andaccordingly, these movable electrodes, a pair of capacitors, and thesignal processing circuit are formed in the same substrate in amonolithic manner.

Furthermore, description is made in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 8-178954 regarding application techniquesfor operating safety devices such as control systems for automobiles,air bag, or the like, and description is further made regarding the factthat formation of the accelerometer in a monolithic manner improves theperformance thereof, from the point of the size, cost, powerrequirement, reliability, and the like. The present embodiment providesa camera for preventing blurring due to the movement of hands with highprecision and high efficiency while maintaining the aforementionedperformance, by efficiently disposing and controlling such devices,taking the characteristic situation of cameras into consideration. Anarrangement may be made wherein this part is configured with a shocksensor or the like, for detecting shock.

FIGS. 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B illustrate configuration examples of acamera having a function of detection of blurring due to the movement ofhands according to the present second embodiment. Note that the samecomponents are denoted by the same reference characters as with theabove-described embodiment, and description will be omitted.

FIG. 13A illustrates an external-view configuration of the camera havinga function of detection of blurring due to the movement of handsaccording to the present second embodiment, and is a configurationperspective view, partially broken away so as to illustrate the internalconfiguration, and FIG. 13B is a configuration diagram which illustratesthe disposition relation between the rigid printed board and theflexible printed board, employed in the camera of the present secondembodiment. Note that the principle of distance measuring employed inthe present second embodiment is the same as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 13A, a camera 50 of the present embodiment mainlycomprises a camera main unit 50A wherein in addition to the photographylens 11, strobe 9, the viewfinder objective-lens unit 35 andphoto-receiving lenses of the distance measuring unit for AF and thelike, are disposed on the front face of the camera main unit 50A. Thecamera main unit 50A includes an electronic circuit group therein forfully automatically operating the camera 50. The electronic circuitgroup includes the aforementioned monolithic accelerometer(accelerometer IC) 100 mounted on the rigid printed board 53. FIG. 13Ais partially broken away so as to illustrate the partial internalconfiguration, in order to show the positional relation.

Furthermore, a one-chip microcomputer (CPU) 1 serving as controller forcontrolling the operations with regard to photography of the entirecamera, and the interface IC (IFIC) 2 for operating an actuator such asa motor or the like, so as to drive the mechanical mechanism, aremounted on the rigid printed board 53, besides the acceleration IC 100.Furthermore, memory 3, e.g., EEPROM, is provided near the CPU 1, forstoring the data in order to adjust the uneven components in the cameramanufacturing process.

FIG. 13B is a configuration diagram which illustrates the relationbetween the rigid printed board 53 and the flexible printed board 51 asviewed from the side of the camera. As shown in FIG. 13B, the rigidprinted board 53 cannot be bent along the curved surface inside thecamera, so the flexible printed board 51 is used, and the rigid printedboard 53 and the flexible printed board 51 are connected with aconnector 52.

The display device (LCD) 7 (see FIG. 13A) is mounted on the flexibleprinted board 51, and furthermore, a communication line for theautofocus (AF) sensor 6 and a switching pattern 14 are formed on theflexible printed board 51. The flexible printed board 51 is bent alongthe curved surface inside the camera main unit 50A up to the rearthereof, and notifying devices of the warning display unit 12, such asan audio emitting device PCV, or an LED, LCD, or the like, are mountedthereon as shown in FIG. 13B. The signals output from the CPU 1 aretransmitted to the warning display unit 12, and also the CPU 1 transmitsand receives the signals to and from the AF sensor 6 b.

The AF sensor 6 obtains the distance to the subject 21 using theprinciple of the trigonometric measuring, that is to say, the imagesignals 22 from the subject 21 are detected using the twophoto-receiving lenses 6 a and sensor arrays 6 b, and the distance tothe subject can be detected from the relative position difference X, asshown in FIG. 2.

In this case, in general, the subject has shade in the verticaldirection, and accordingly, these two photo-receiving lenses 6 a aredisposed in the horizontal direction (X direction) as shown in FIG. 13A,and the sensor array 6 b is divided into pixels in the horizontaldirection, as well. With such disposition configuration, in the eventthat the blurring occurs in the horizontal direction due to the movementof hands, the image offset is detected in the X direction.

Accordingly, the accelerometer IC 100 is disposed so as to detect themovement in the Y direction rather than the X direction, as shown inFIG. 14B, whereby the movements in the X direction and the Y directioncan be detected by the different kinds of sensors, i.e., the AF sensorand the accelerometer.

Now, description will be made in detail regarding a further specificconfiguration of the accelerometer IC 100 with reference to FIGS. 15Athrough 15E, and FIGS. 16A through 16C.

FIGS. 15A through 15E show explanatory diagrams which illustrate anexample of the manufacturing process for the aforementionedaccelerometer IC 100, and FIGS. 15A through 15E correspond to themanufacturing process order (first through fifth process).

FIGS. 16A through 16C illustrate a specific configuration of theaforementioned accelerometer IC 100, wherein FIG. 16A is a configurationdiagram which illustrates a configuration on a silicon substrate, FIG.16B illustrates a configuration perspective view which illustrates thesilicon substrate containing a movable electrode and arm units, and FIG.16C is a configuration diagram which illustrates an IC configurationformed on the silicon substrate including a processing circuit.

First of all, an oxide layer 121 is formed on a silicon substrate (ICchip) 120 (see FIGS. 15A and 15B), a patterned photo-resist mask isformed on the oxide layer 121 so as to remove the exposed part of theoxide layer 121 by etching, and subsequently, the resist mask isremoved, whereby aperture portions can be formed at arbitrary regions(see FIG. 15C).

Subsequently, following a polysilicon layer 122 being deposited on thesurface thereof (see FIG. 15D), the oxide layer 121 is selectivelyremoved using wet etching, whereby the polysilicon layer 122 having abridge-shaped structure is formed on the silicon substrate 120 (see FIG.15E). The polysilicon layer is subjected to impurity diffusion ofphosphor or the like so as to give conductivity. With the bridge-shapedstructure, a movable electrode 122 having supports at four cornersthereof is formed on the silicon substrate 120, as shown in FIG. 16B.

Furthermore, other electrodes 124 and 125 are formed on the siliconsubstrate 120 as shown in FIG. 16A, and are disposed at positionsadjacent to the arm units 123 a and 123 b of the aforementioned movableelectrode 122, whereby minute capacitance is formed between the arm unit123 a and the electrode 124, and between the arm unit 123 b and theelectrode 125. Furthermore, by disposing an IC chip having the movableelectrode configuration on the silicon substrate 120 as shown in FIG.16C, an IC with a processing circuit which can make judgment with regardto the acceleration in a predetermined direction can be formed in amonolithic manner.

That is to say, the processing circuit 129 is formed on the chip in anon-chip manner together with the aforementioned movable electrodecapacitor formed in a monolithic manner, as shown in FIG. 16C. The ICdetects the change in capacitance due to the movement of the movableelectrode 122, and outputs the signals corresponding to theacceleration. Due to the movement of the bridge-shaped movable electrode122, the capacitance formed with one electrode of the aforementioned twoelectrodes is increased, and the capacitance formed with anotherelectrode is decreased, and accordingly, the acceleration can bedetected in the arrow direction shown in FIG. 16B.

Accordingly, when the IC chip having such configuration is mounted onthe camera, the acceleration can be detected in the Y direction shown inFIG. 14B.

FIG. 17A is a block diagram which illustrates a configuration example ofthe aforementioned processing circuit 129.

As described above, the capacitance components are formed between thearm unit 123 a and the electrode 124, and between the arm unit 123 b andthe electrode 125, wherein the arm units 123 a, 123 b and electrodes124, 125 are included in a Y-direction acceleration sensor 131 fordetecting the movement in the Y direction. These capacitance componentschanges due to the movement of the arm units 123 a and 123 b. The changein the capacitance is converted into electric signals by the processingcircuit 129.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the processing circuit 129 comprises acarrier-wave generating device (oscillation circuit) 132 for generatingpulse-shaped carrier waves, a demodulator circuit 134 for demodulatingthe oscillation waves which have been changed due to the change in thecapacitance of the Y-direction acceleration sensor 131 with full-waveswitching rectification, a filter circuit 136 for outputting analogsignals corresponding to the acceleration, and a PWM signal generatingcircuit 137 for performing analog-PWM conversion.

FIG. 17B illustrates an output wave from the aforementioned processingcircuit 129. As shown in the drawing, with the output from theprocessing circuit 129, the duty ratio (ratio of T1 to T2) of the pulseis changed corresponding to the acceleration.

Thus, the accelerometer IC 100 outputs the voltage signals proportionalto acceleration, or the pulse-width modulation (PWM) signalsproportional to acceleration. The CPU 1, which can handle only thedigital signals, can detect the acceleration by demodulating the PWMsignals using an internal counter. With regard to the voltage signalsproportional to the acceleration, an adjusting device or the like havingan A/D converter may be employed. Note that, in the event of using thePWM signals, there is no need to mount an A/D converter on the CPU 1.

FIG. 14A is a block circuit diagram of the camera on which suchaccelerometer IC 100 is mounted, and description will be made regardingthe configuration of main components with reference to this drawing.

FIG. 14A illustrates an electric circuit configuration of the camera 50of the present second embodiment.

The camera 50 of the present second embodiment comprises the CPU 1 forcontrolling the entire camera, the IFIC 2, the monolithic accelerometer(accelerometer IC) 100, the memory (EEPROM) 3 for storing adjustingdata, the autofocus (AF) unit 5, the photometry unit 4, the liquidcrystal device (LCD) 7 for displaying the setting state of the cameraand information with regard to photography, the LCD8 in viewfinder,provided within the viewfinder, for displaying information with regardto photography, the strobe unit 9 including an light-emission tube foremitting auxiliary light or the like, the main capacitor 10 for holdingcharges for energizing the light-emission tube, the photography lens 11having a zoom function, the warning display unit 12 including LEDs, theresistance 13 serially connected to the warning display unit 12, theswitches 14 a and 14 b for starting a photography sequence of thecamera, the motor 18 for driving drive mechanisms for the photographylens 11, shutter 20, film feeding, and the like, the rotational blade 19which rotates in interlocking to the motor 18, and the photo-interrupter17 for optically detecting apertures of the rotational blade 19, whichrotates for driving and controlling the motor 18.

Note that an arrangement may be made wherein an unshown switchingmechanism switches the drive mechanism to be driven such that one motor18 can drives each of driving mechanisms such as the photography lens11, the shutter 20, or the like, or an arrangement may be made whereineach mechanism has an individual motor.

With the above-described configuration, the CPU 1 performs and controlsthe photography sequence of the camera according to the actions of therelease switches 14 a and 14 b. That is to say, the CPU 1 gives awarning display on the LCD8 in viewfinder for giving a warning ofblurring due to movement of hands according to the output from themonolithic accelerometer 100, and also drives the distance-measuringunit 5 for AF, and the photometry unit 4 for measuring luminance of thesubject for controlling exposure, at the time of taking a picture, andreceives necessary signals so as to control the motor 18 through theaforementioned IFIC 2.

At this time, the rotation of the motor 18 is transmitted to therotational blade 19. The signals output from the photo-interrupter 17according to the detection of the presence or absence of the aperture ofthe rotational blade 19, are subjected to adjustment of waveform by theIFIC 2, and are output to the CPU 1. The CPU 1 monitors the rotation ofthe motor 18 based on the signals output from the IFIC 2. Furthermore,the CPU 1 performs emission of the auxiliary light with the strobecircuit 9 as necessary.

Furthermore, the CPU 1 reads out the focal distance conditions of thephotography lens from a focal distance detection unit 150 for AF controland the like.

Note that notifying of movement according to the present secondembodiment may be made as shown in FIGS. 3A through 3D, as describedabove.

Next, description will be made in detail regarding the principle ofdetection of vibration for the camera with the above-describedconfiguration with reference to FIGS. 18A through 21, and the like.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are explanatory diagrams for describing the vibrationof the camera according to the second embodiment when blurring isoccurring due to the movement of hands, wherein FIG. 18A is a diagramwhich illustrates a scene of the user holding the camera, and FIG. 18Bis a diagram which illustrates the direction of the vibration detectionfor the camera.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are property diagrams which illustrate the relationbetween time and the acceleration, corresponding to the moved distanceof the camera, according to the second embodiment, wherein FIG. 19Aillustrates a case of the moved amount of the camera being great, andFIG. 19B illustrates a case of the moved amount of the camera beingsmall.

FIGS. 20A through 20D are explanatory diagrams for describing thedetection operations for the vibration of the camera according to thesecond embodiment, and operational procedure examples and displayexamples are shown in FIGS. 20A through 20D, respectively.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram which illustrates the configurationof a display segment within the LCD of the camera according to thesecond embodiment.

Now, let us say that the user takes a picture using the camera. In thiscase, as shown in FIG. 18A, the user 21 might hold the camera 50 withone hand, and in such a case, the camera 50 is readily moved by a minutedistance in an oblique direction. That is to say, the minute vibrationof the camera 50 can be broken down into the movements in the Xdirection and the Y direction, as shown in FIG. 18B.

In general, many users do not take into consideration the fact that theabove-described minute vibration causes blurring when photographing.With the camera 50 of the present second embodiment, the camera 50detects the minute vibration, and gives a display as described in FIGS.3A through 3D, so the user 21 can perform countermeasures forsuppressing the vibration for photography such as holding the camerawith the left hand as well, thereby enabling photography without failureby blurring due to the movement of hands.

On the other hand, advanced users who sufficiently take the occurrenceof blurring due to movement of hands into consideration may regard thewarning function as a nuisance, and rather might desire photography withblurring due to movement of hands as an effect, so accordingly, with thepresent embodiment, the holding checking function is included in thephotography modes for the camera, and only in the event that the userdesires the function, the function is set. That is to say, as shown inFIG. 20A, a switch 16 and a liquid crystal display unit 7 are providedfor selecting the photography mode, and in the normal state, only thefunctions such as a film counter 7 a and the like are operated. On theother hand, only in the event that the user 21 operates the modeswitching switch 16 with the left hand 21 a or the like as shown in FIG.20B, the blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection mode is set. In theevent that the blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection mode is set,the display segments 7 b and 7 c are displayed as shown in FIGS. 20B and20C, and furthermore, in the event that the display segment 7 b isblinked, the user can recognize that the holding check mode has started.

With the present embodiment, the mode display is performed using part ofdisplay for the self-timer mode, as shown in FIG. 20D, and accordingly,the mode display does not require expanding the layout within the liquidcrystal display unit (LCD) 7. Note that the display segments 7 b and 7 care independently wired within the liquid display unit 7 as shown inFIG. 21, and accordingly, the CPU 1 can independently control thedisplay segments 7 b and 7 c.

In a case that the blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection mode isset, and the user 21 holds the camera 50, in the event that holding isunstable, the LCD8 in viewfinder is blinked so as to give a warning tothe user 21 as described above. Also, as shown in FIG. 4A, anarrangement may be made wherein the LEDs around the viewfinder eyepieceunit of the camera are blinked so as to giving a warning, as describedabove.

Also, an arrangement may be made wherein in the event that the movementof the camera 50 is occurring, the self-timer LED is blinked so as togive a warning, as shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the front face of thecamera 50, and thus, in the event that the user makes a request toanother person for taking a picture of the user, the user can check themovement of the camera held by the person.

Next, description will be made in detail regarding the differencebetween the output from the AF sensor (image signals) and the outputfrom the acceleration sensor, which is a feature of the presentembodiment, with reference to FIGS. 19A and 19B.

Now, let us say that the camera 50 is moved due to holding by the user21, and accordingly, blurring due to the movement of hands occurs bothin the X direction and the Y direction as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B.

In this case, with the camera 50 according to the present secondembodiment, the moment the camera 50 vibrates, the acceleration sensor(accelerometer IC) 100 outputs a signal at a timing of t=t1 due to themovement of the camera 50 as shown in FIG. 19A. Subsequently, in theevent that the camera 50 moves at a constant velocity, the accelerationof the camera 50 is zero, and accordingly, the acceleration sensor 100outputs no signals, although blurring due to the movement of the cameraoccurs. In the event that the camera stops again, the accelerationsensor 100 outputs a signal in the direction wherein the aforementioneduniform motion of the camera is stopped, at a timing of t=t7.

The image sensor (AF sensor) of the camera continuously outputs imagesignals during the uniform motion of the camera so as to compensate forthe acceleration sensor, and accordingly, the CPU 1 of the camera 50 canjudge as to the movement of the camera 50 by judging the output from theAF sensor even in the event that the output from the acceleration sensor100 is zero.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19B, even in the event that imagesignals hardly change, the acceleration sensor 100 could output signals.In this case, the user 21 attempts to fixedly hold the camera 50, butholds with minute tremor of the hands, and the change in the image issmall, unlike the state shown in FIG. 19A. In many cases, the user cantake a picture without problems depending on the focal distance even insuch a state. That is to say, even in the event that the accelerationsensor 100 outputs great signals, the camera 50 could be moved by aminute length, and conversely, even in the event that the accelerationsensor 100 rarely outputs signals, the position of the camera could begreatly changed.

On the other hand, blurring detection with the AF sensor has severalproblems. For example, in the event that there is no contrast in theimage, or in the event that the image cannot be recognized due todarkness, the change in the image cannot be obtained, and consequently,judgment cannot be made with regard to blurring. Furthermore, with thesensor for detecting only in one direction as in the present embodiment,there are difficulties in accurately detecting the movement of thecamera 50 or the change in the image in a direction different from thedetection direction of the AF sensor, and furthermore, in the event thatthe camera 50 is greatly moved, the AF sensor loses the monitoredposition in the image, and in this case, accurate judgment cannot bemade with regard to the blurred amount.

Accordingly, the method for judging blurring using the above-describedtwo sensors, i.e., the AF sensor and the acceleration sensor, forcompensating for each other, is necessary. With the camera of thepresent embodiment, the above-described two kinds of sensors withdifferent detecting methods are mounted, and the camera has a holdingcheck mode function.

Description will be made in detail regarding display control and thelike executed by the CPU 1 within the camera having the above-describedholding check mode function, following a sequence from a stored program,with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B.

For example, with the present second embodiment, when the barrier 39 forprotecting the front lens is opened as shown in FIG. 5, first of all,the user performs framing and does not tightly hold the camera yet, aswell, so the camera is greatly vibrated, and accordingly, valid judgmentcannot be made by the AF sensor. The AF sensor monitors only the narrowregion within the screen, and accordingly, quantitative evaluationcannot be made with regard to the great movement of the camera at all.

Accordingly, first of all, the CPU 1 within the camera 50 judges theoutput from the acceleration sensor (accelerometer IC) 100 in judgmentprocessing in Step S101, and even in the event that shock is detecteddue to the barrier being opened, or the user holding the camera, warningdisplay of holding is prohibited for a predetermined time period in theprocessing in the subsequent Step S102.

Subsequently, image detection is performed using the AF sensor in theprocessing in Step S103. Thus, judgment is made whether or not imagedetection can be preferably employed for holding checking. That is tosay, in the event that judgment is made that the luminance of thedetected image is low in the following Step S104, or judgment is madethat the contrast of the detected image is low in the Step S105, the CPU1 does not employ the image signals, and the flow proceeds to Step S110so as to make blurring judgment from acceleration detection. With theblurring judgment from acceleration detection, in the event thatfollowing a signal being output from the acceleration sensor, no signalcorresponding to the acceleration in the opposite direction is output ina predetermined time period (Steps S111 through S112), a warning isgiven (Step S113). That is to say, judgment is made that the camera ismoving at a constant velocity as shown in FIG. 19A, and warning thatblurring due to the movement of hands could be caused is given to theuser.

In this case, the user may be panning the camera, so the LCD inviewfinder is not blinked, and only the LEDs 33 around the viewfindereyepiece unit are blinked as shown in FIG. 4A, unlike the case of the AFsensor also being employed (Step S127), for example.

On the other hand, in the event that the image signals can be suitablyemployed in blurring judgment, the CPU 1 repeatedly performs imagedetection (Steps S121, S124) at predetermined intervals (Step S122), anddetection of blurring due to the movement of hands is performed based onthe image offset amount and the sum of absolute values of thedifferences between image signals (description will be made later indetail regarding the processing in Step S125), in operations followingStep S120. Subsequently, judgment is made whether or not a blurring flag(f_bure) exhibiting the result of the detection is set to “1” injudgment processing in the following Step S126. That is to say, the CPU1 judges whether or not the blurring flag (f_bure) is set to “1” in thejudgment processing, and in the event that judgment is made that theblurring flag (f_bure) is set to “1”, the flow proceeds to theprocessing in Step S127 so as to give a warning of the camera beingunstably held.

Recognizing such warning, the user can perform countermeasures forpreventing the blurring due to the movement of hands, e.g., holding thecamera with both hands, placing the camera on an object, or the like.

Furthermore, the CPU 1 judges whether or not a frame change flag(f_change) is set in judgment processing in the following Step S128.That is to say, the CPU 1 judges whether or not the frame change flag(f_change) is “1” in the judgment processing, and in the event thatjudgment is made that the image offset amount or the sum of the absolutevalues of the differences between image signals, obtained from theblurring detection in the aforementioned Step S125, is greater than anormal blurring judgment level, and the frame change flag (f_change) isset (1), it is considered that the user holds the camera from a quitedifferent angle, or changes the frame, and accordingly, the flow returnsto the processing in the aforementioned Step S101.

Furthermore, in the event that judgment is made that the frame changeflag (f_change) is not set up (“0”) in the judgment processing in theaforementioned Step S128, the CPU 1 makes the flow return to theprocessing in the aforementioned Step S122.

On the other hand, in the event that judgment is made that the blurringflag (f_bure) is not set up (“0”) in the judgment processing in theaforementioned Step S127, the image signals are stable. Accordingly, inthis case, release can be made, and the CPU 1 judges whether or not therelease is pressed in the judgment processing in Step S129, and in theevent of the release being pressing, an exposure sequence in Stepsfollowing Step S130 is performed. On the other hand, in the event thatjudgment is made that the release is not pressed, the flow returns tothe processing in the aforementioned Step S122.

In the event that the release is pressed, first of all, the CPU 1performs focusing and distance measuring for the focusing in theprocessing in Steps S130 and S131. In the processing in the followingStep S132, an exposure time period is determined based on luminanceinformation obtained from image detection performed in theaforementioned Step S103, simultaneously with which exposure is started.

If the camera is moved during the exposure time period, blurring due tothe movement of hands is caused, and accordingly, the CPU 1 performsdetection of acceleration in the processing in the following Step S133,whereby the acceleration g due to the shock during pressing of therelease button, or the like, is obtained. That is to say, in a case ofthe acceleration g being great, blurring is caused in the picture evenif the exposure time period is short, and conversely, even in a case ofthe acceleration g being small, blurring is caused in the picture in theevent that the exposure time period is long, as well. In order to makejudgment whether or not blurring is caused, the CPU 1 measures theexposure time period in the judgment processing in the following stepS134, and makes judgment that exposure ends in Step S135. Subsequently,the velocity is obtained from the obtained acceleration g and theexposure time period tEND in the processing in the following Step S136,and the moved amount can be obtained from the fact that the camera ismoved by the time of tEND at the velocity. Accordingly, in the eventthat the moved amount exceeds the blurring allowance amount ΔY for thelens, display control is performed so as to give a warning in theprocessing in the following Step S137. Conversely, in the event that themoved amount does not exceed the blurring allowance amount ΔY, theprocessing ends.

While only the change in the velocity can be obtained from theacceleration alone as described above, with the present embodiment,first of all, judgment is made whether or not the camera is kept stillat a predetermined position based on the fact that the output (imagesignals) from the AF sensor is not changed, and accordingly, accuratejudgment can be made how much the camera has moved during exposure basedon the output from the AF sensor as a reference.

Next, description will be made in detail regarding the blurringdetection processing in the aforementioned Step S125 with reference to aflowchart shown in FIG. 23. FIG. 23 is a flowchart which illustrates asubroutine for performing the blurring detection processing in theaforementioned Step S125.

With the camera 50 according to the present second embodiment, the CPU 1performs the processing in the aforementioned Step S125, following whichthe CPU 1 starts the subroutine for detection of blurring due to themovement of hands shown in FIG. 23. That is to say, the CPU 1 performsprocessing in Step S201, whereby the blurring flag (f_bure) and theframe change flag (f_change) are cleared (are set to “0”), and the flowproceeds to Step S202.

In the processing in Step S202, the CPU 1 detects the image offsetamount X between the image data D(n−1) which has been detected in theprevious detection and the image data D(n) which is detected in thisdetection based on correlation computation processing or the likedescribed later, and subsequently, the flow proceeds to Step S203.

In the processing in Step S203, the CPU 1 detects thesum-of-absolute-value-of-difference Y between the image data D(n−1)which has been detected in the previous detection and the image dataD(n) which is detected in this detection. In this case, with D(n−1) asa1, a2, . . . , and an, and with D(n) as b1, b2, . . . , and bn, theabsolute value of the difference Y is represented by the followingexpression. $\begin{matrix}{Y = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}\quad{{a_{i} - b_{i}}}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

Here, a1, a2, . . . , an represent output values which form the imagedata D(n−1) detected from photo-receiving elements making up the sensorarray 6 b in the previous detection, and b1, b2, . . . , bn are outputvalues which form the image data D(n) detected from photo-receivingelements making up the sensor array 6 b in this detection. That is tosay, in the above-described Expression (1), the sum of the absolutevalues of the differences between the output values in the previousdetection and the output values in this detection in the samephoto-receiving elements is obtained.

The sum-of-absolute-value-of-difference Y between the image data isdetected using the above-described Expression (1). Thus, the changebetween the image data detected in the previous detection and the imagedata detected in the this detection can be detected. That is to say, inthe event that the camera is vibrated in the vertical direction, themonitor range of the AF sensor 6 is changed as shown in FIG. 8B, theimage-data shape itself is changed as shown in FIG. 7A. Due to thechange in the image-data shape, the above-describedsum-of-absolute-value-of-difference Y between the image data exhibits agreat value. Thus, in the event that thesum-of-absolute-value-of-difference Y between the image data exhibits agreat value, judgment is made that the movement in the verticaldirection of the camera has been caused.

Subsequently, the flow proceeds to the judgment processing in Step S204.

Subsequently, the CPU 1 compares the image offset amount X with ablurring judgment amount Xb in the judgment processing in Step S204, andin the event that judgment is made that the image offset amount X isless than the blurring judgment amount Xb, the flow proceeds to Step5205, and conversely, in the event that judgment is made that the imageoffset amount X is equal to or greater than the blurring judgment amountXb, the flow proceeds to Step S206.

In the judgment processing in Step S305, the CPU 1 compares theabove-described sum-of-absolute-value-of differences Y between the imagedata D(n−1) and the image data D(n) with the blurring judgment value Yb,and in the event that judgment is made that the above-describedsum-of-absolute-value-of-difference Y is greater than the blurringjudgment value Yb, the flow proceeds to Step S206, and conversely, inthe event that judgment is made that theabove-described-sum-of-absolute-values-of-differences Y is equal to orless than the blurring judgment value Yb, the blurring detectionprocessing ends, and the flow returns.

In the processing in Step S206, the CPU 1 sets the blurring flag(f_bure). That is to say, the CPU 1 sets the blurring flag (f_bure) to“1”, and subsequently, the flowproceeds to Step S207.

Subsequently, the CPU 1 compares the image offset amount X with a framechange judgment value Xch in the judgment processing in Step 5207, andin the event that judgment is made that the image offset amount X isless than the frame change judgment value Xch, the flow proceeds to StepS208, and conversely, in the event that equal judgment is made that theimage offset amount X is to or greater than the frame change judgmentvalue Xch, the flow proceeds to Step 5209.

In the judgment processing in Step S205, the CPU 1 compares thesum-of-absolute-value-of-difference Y between the image data D(n−1) andthe image data D(n) with the blurring judgment value Yb, and in theevent that judgment is made that the sum-of-absolute-value-of-differenceY is greater than the frame change judgment value Ych, the flow proceedsto Step S209, and conversely, in the event that judgment is made thatthe sum-of-absolute-value-of-difference Y is equal to or less than theframe judgment value Ych, the blurring detection processing ends, andthe flow returns.

Subsequently, the CPU 1 sets up the frame change flag (f_change) in theprocessing in Step S209. That is to say, the CPU 1 sets the frame changeflag (f_change) to “1”. Subsequently, the blurring detection processingends, the flow returns, and the flow proceeds to Step S126, as shown inFIG. 22A.

Next, description will be made in detail regarding the correlationcomputation processing in the aforementioned Step S202 shown in FIG. 23with reference to FIGS. 24A, 24B, and 25.

FIGS. 24A, 24B, and 25, are explanatory diagrams for describing theabove-described computation processing, wherein FIGS. 24A and 24B arediagrams for describing the window shift method for the correlationcomputation, and FIG. 25 is a diagram which indicates the chart withregard to the correlation data, which indicates the correlation valuefor each shift value.

Note that, in FIGS. 24A and 24B, reference characters 6 ba and 6 bbdenote line sensors (AF sensor) for performing photoelectric conversionaccording to the luminance of the image of the subject, formed by thephoto-receiving lens, so as to converting into electric signals.Reference characters 160 a and 160 b denote extraction ranges (alsoreferred to as “windows”) for the sensor data for being employed incomputation of the correlation amount. Furthermore, in FIG. 25, Fmindenotes the minimal correlation value, and nFmin denotes the shiftamount wherein the correlation value is the minimal value.

With the present second embodiment, in the correlation computationprocessing in the aforementioned Step S202 (see FIG. 23), the sensorarrays 6 ba and 6 bb are used as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B.

Here, the sensor array 6 ba indicates the sensor array 6 b at the timingof the previous detection, and the sensor array 6 bb indicates thesensor array 6 b at the timing of this detection. While differentreference characters are used for the purpose of description, the sensorarray 6 ba is the same sensor as the sensor array 6 bb.

The sensor arrays 6 ba and 6 bb are formed of multiple photoelectricconversion elements (photo-receiving elements) as shown in the drawings.The output image signals a1, a2, . . . , aN, and b1, b2, . . . , bN, arestored respectively in the two regions in unshown storing means withinthe CPU 1 (in the event of detection of blurring due to the movement ofhands, only the image signals a1, a2, . . . , aN, obtained following apredetermined time period as described above, are stored).

Note that the aforementioned image signals a1, a2, . . . , aN, denotethe output signals from photoelectric conversion elements at the timingof the previous detection, and the image signals b1, b2, . . . , bN,denote the output signals from photoelectric conversion elements at thetiming of this detection.

The CPU 1 extracts the data from the image signals in the predeterminedranges (which will be referred to as “windows”) 160 a and 160 b. Withthe extracting method, the simplest method is that while fixing thewindow 160 a, the window 160 b is shifted pixel by pixel of the sensor.This extracting method is an example, and the present embodiment is notrestricted to the method, the number of data, the shift amount, theshift method, or the like may be changed between the timing of distancemeasuring and the timing of detection of blurring due to the movement ofhands, for example.

Subsequently, the CPU 1 obtains the correlation amount F(n) with thefollowing Expression (2) using the data extracted from the pair of thewindows. In this case, in Expression (2), with n as the shift amount,with w as the number of the data within each window, with i as the datanumber in the window, and with k as the first sensor data number in thecomputation area, the correlation F(n) is represented by the followingexpression (2). $\begin{matrix}{F_{(n)} = {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{w - 1}\quad{{a_{k + i} - b_{k + i + n}}}}} & (2)\end{matrix}$

In this case, in the event that the correlation F(n) obtained byshifting the window 160 b pixel by pixel of the sensor is the minimalvalue (F(n)=Fmin) as shown in FIG. 25, the best match is obtainedbetween the data in the one pair of windows 160 a and 160 b, and theshift amount n=nFmin is determined as the relative image offset amountX(n) for the image of the subject.

That is to say, with the above-described computation, the moved amountof the image data is obtained in the direction of the photoelectricconversion element array making up the sensor array 6 b based on thetimings of the previous detection and this detection. That is to say,the movement of the camera into the direction of the photoelectricconversion element array of the camera (the horizontal direction of thecamera) can be detected based on the moved amount.

Thus, subsequently, control is performed so as to obtain image shiftamount X(n), and perform comparison judgment using the predeterminedlevels Xb and Xch, as described above.

Accordingly, as described above, with the present second embodiment, theAF sensor is efficiently used, so the AF sensor is not only used fordistance measuring, but also used for holding checking, therebyproviding an added value to the camera.

Furthermore, the signals from the acceleration sensor are used, as well,and accordingly, the camera can detect movement in the X direction andthe Y direction, handle a dark scenes and low-contrast scenes, and alsocan perform accurate calculation of the moved amount of the camera basedon the output signals from the acceleration sensor using theacceleration sensor as a stillness detecting sensor.

Furthermore, in the blurring detection using the AF sensor, blurringjudgment is made not only based on the offset amount of the subject, butalso based on the sum of the absolute values of the differences betweenimage signals, and accordingly, blurring due to the movement of handscan be detected in the X direction (the horizontal direction of thecamera) and the Y direction (the vertical direction of the camera) evenby the AF sensor alone.

Thus, the camera can perform accurate judgment with regard to blurringdue to the movement of hands following taking a picture, correspondingto the focal distance and iris of the photography lens and the shutterspeed in taking a picture.

Furthermore, it is needless to say that adjustment of the position ofthe photography lens based on the calculated moved amount enables anapplication to cameras having prevention-of-vibration functions.

Next, description will be made regarding a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart which indicates an example of the blurringdetection control, which is the third embodiment of the presentinvention, performed by the CPU of the camera having adetection-of-blurring function according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

While with the above-described second embodiment, movement detection isperformed using the image offset amount and the sum of the absolutevalues of the differences between the image signals, with the thirdembodiment, in the event that the image offset amount is less than theblurring judgment value, control processing is performed so as toperform blurring detection using the sum of the absolute values of thedifferences between image signals, which is a feature of the presentthird embodiment. Other components are the same as with theabove-described second embodiment.

With the camera 50 of the present third embodiment, upon the CPU 1performing blurring detection processing in the aforementioned Step S125shown in FIG. 22A, the CPU 1 starts a subroutine for detection ofblurring-due-to-movement-of-hands shown in FIG. 26. That is to say, theCPU 1 performs the processing in Step S301, wherein the blurring flag(f_bure) and the frame change flag (f_change) are cleared (set to “0”),and subsequently, the flow proceeds to Step S302.

In the processing in Step S302, the CPU 1 detects the image offset valueX between the image data D(n−1) detected in the previous detection andthe image data D(n) detected in this detection based on the samecorrelation computation processing or the like as with theabove-described second embodiment, and subsequently, the flow proceedsto Step S303.

In the judgment processing in Step S303, the CPU 1 compares the imageoffset amount X with the blurring judgment value Xb, and in the eventthat judgment is made that the image offset amount X is less than theblurring judgment value Xb, the flow proceeds to Step S304, andconversely, in the event that judgment is made that the image offsetamount X is equal to or greater than the blurring judgment value Xb, theflow proceeds to Step S307.

In the processing in Step S304, the CPU 1 detects the sum of theabsolute values of the differences Y between the image data D(n−1)detected in the previous detection and the image data D(n) detected inthis detection, using the above-described Expression (1) in the same wayas with the above-described second embodiment, and subsequently, theflow proceeds to the judgment processing in Step S305.

In the judgment processing in Step S305, the CPU 1 compares the sum ofthe absolute values of the difference Y between the image data D(n−1)and the image data D(n) with the blurring judgment value Yb. In theevent that judgment is made that the sum of the absolute values of thedifferences Y is greater than the blurring judgment value Yb, the flowproceeds to Step S306, and conversely, in the event that judgment ismade that the sum of absolute value of the difference Y is equal to orless than the frame change judgment value Yb, the blurring detectionprocessing ends, and the flow returns. the flow returns.

In the judgment processing in Step S306, the CPU 1 compares the sum ofthe absolute values of the differences Y between the image data D(n−1)and the image data D(n) with the frame change judgment value Ych. In theevent that judgment is made that the sum of the absolute values Y isless than the frame change judgment value Ych, the flow proceeds to StepS307, and conversely, in the event that judgment is made that the sum ofthe absolute values Y is equal to or greater than the frame changejudgment value Ych, the flow proceeds to Step S309.

In the processing in Step S307, the CPU 1 sets up the blurring flag(f_bure). That is to say, the CPU 1 sets the blurring flag (f_bure) to“1”, and subsequently, the flow proceeds to Step S308.

Subsequently, the CPU 1 compares the image offset amount X with theframe change judgment value Xch in the judgment processing in Step S308,and in the event that judgment is made that the image offset amount X isgreater than the frame change judgment value Xch, the flow proceeds toStep S309, and conversely, in the event that judgment is made that theimage offset amount X is equal to less than the frame change judgmentvalue Xch, the blurring detection ends, and the flow returns.

Subsequently, the CPU 1 sets up the frame change flag (f_change) in theprocessing in Step S309. That is to say, the frame change flag(f_change) is set to “1”, and subsequently, the blurring detection ends,the flow returns, and the flow proceeds to the processing in Step S126shown in FIG. 22A in the same way as with the above-described secondembodiment.

Accordingly, with the present embodiment as described above, only in theevent that blurring detection cannot be performed using the image offsetamount, blurring detection is performed using the absolute value of thedifference between image signals, and accordingly, blurring detectiontime in a normal state can be reduced. Other effects are the same aswith the above-described second embodiment.

As described above, with the second or third embodiment, in the eventthat the holding check mode is set when taking a picture whereinblurring due to the movement of hands is of particular concern, awarning is given when blurring due to the movement of hands occurs so asto let the user recognize the blurring due to the movement of hands,thereby enabling a picture to be taken without failure due to movementof hands. Furthermore, the sensor used as a conventionaldistance-measuring sensor is used as well for the judgment as toblurring due to the movement of hands at the time of holding judgment,thereby providing a camera having a blurring-due-to-movement-of-handsdetection function with high reliability without increasing in costs.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

With the above-described embodiments, conditions for using the measuredsubject image data are not taken into consideration for performingdistance measuring and blurring detection using the distance-measuringsensor (AF sensor), and accordingly, optimal processing cannot beperformed in both cases, and consequently, sufficient performance couldnot be obtained.

With the present fourth embodiment, taking the conditions for using themeasured subject image data into consideration according to the use ofthe AF sensor, distance measuring and blurring detection, with higherperformance, are performed. Other components are the same as with theabove-described third embodiment, so description will be omitted. Notethat, with the present fourth embodiment, the output signals from theacceleration sensor are used for detecting the movement in the verticaldirection of the camera. However, in the event of detecting the movementin the vertical direction of the camera using the above-described sum ofthe absolute value of the difference between the subject image data, theconditions for using the subject image data can be set in the same way.

Description will be made below regarding the present fourth embodimentfollowing flowcharts shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B.

In the same way as with the above-described second embodiment, with thecamera shown in FIG. 5, upon the barrier 39 for protecting the frontlens being opened, first of all, the user performs framing, and does notperform actions of holding yet. Accordingly, the camera is greatlyvibrated, so judgment by the AF sensor is invalid. The AF sensormonitors a narrow region within the screen, and accordingly,quantitative evaluation cannot be made with regard to the great movementof the camera at all.

Accordingly, first of all, the CPU 1 within the camera 50 makes judgmentwith regard to the output from the acceleration sensor (accelerometerIC) 100 in the judgment processing in Step S401. Thus, even in the eventthat the camera receives shock due to the barrier being opened, or dueto the camera being held by the user, a warning display regardingholding is prohibited for a predetermined time period in the processingin the following Step S402. Subsequently, image detection is performedusing the AF sensor in the judgment processing in Step S403. Thus,judgment is made whether or not image detection is suitable to holdingchecking, so in the event that the CPU 1 makes judgment that thedetected image exhibits low luminance in the following Step S404, ormakes judgment that the detected image exhibits low contrast in StepS405, the flow proceeds to the processing in Step S410 so as to start aflow for blurring judgment by detecting acceleration, not by using imagesignals. The processing is that in the event that the accelerationsensor outputs a signal, and does not output one corresponding to thereverse acceleration in a predetermined time period (Step S411 throughStep S412), warning is given (Step S413), that is to say in the eventthat judgment is made that the camera is moved at a constant velocity asshown in FIG. 19A, warning is given so as to let the user know the factthat blurring due to the movement of hands could be caused.

In this case, the user might be intending to take a picture by panningor the like, and accordingly, an arrangement may be made that the LCD inviewfinder is not blinked, and only the LEDs 33 around the findereyepiece unit are blinked, as shown in FIG. 4A, in order to give awarning different from that in a case of using the AF sensor as well(Step S427).

Furthermore, in the event that image signals are suitable to judgmentwith regard to blurring due to the movement of hands, the CPU 1 sets asubject image data range used for blurring detection in the flowfollowing Step S420 (Step S420). Subsequently, image detection isrepeatedly performed (Steps S422 and S425) in predetermined interval(Step S423). In the event that the offset amount between the signalsequal to or more than the predetermined level Xc is observed, judgmentis made in the judgment processing in Step S426, and display control isperformed so as to give a warning that holding of the camera isinsufficient, in the processing in Step S427.

Receiving these warnings, the user recognizes that he/she hasunwittingly caused movement of the camera, and accordingly, the user canperform countermeasures for blurring due to the movement of hands suchas holding with both hands, or placing the camera on an object or thelike.

Furthermore, in the processing in the subsequent Step S428, in the eventthat the CPU 1 makes judgment that the offset amount of the signals isgreater than Xcc which is greater than Xc, compared in theabove-described Step S426, it considered is that the user holds thecamera from a quite different angle, or changes the frame, andaccordingly, the flow returns to the processing in the above-describedStep S401. On the other hand, in the event that the offset amount isequal to or less than Xcc in the judgment in Step S428, control isperformed such that the flow return to the processing in theavode-described Step S423.

On the other hand, in the event that image signals are stable, theoffset amount of the signals is less than Xc in the judgment in StepS426, so the CPU 1 control the flow proceeds to processing in Step S410so as to start the flow of blurring judgment by detection ofacceleration. Thus, in the event that the output corresponding to theacceleration in the reverse direction is not detected in a predeterminedtime period (Step S411 and S412), a warning is given (Step S413). Onother hand, in the Step S411, the flow proceeds to Step S414. Asdescribed above, the movement in the horizontal direction of the camera(direction of the photoelectric conversion element array) is detectedbased on the image signals direction of the camera (direction orthogonalto the element array) is detected based on the output from theacceleration sensor.

Subsequently, judgment is made whether or not the release is pressed inthe judgment processing in the subsequent Step S414. In the event thatjudgment is made that the release is pressed, an exposure sequencefollowing the processing in the subsequent Step S430 is performed. Onthe other hand, in the event that judgment is made that the release isnot pressed, the flow returns to the above-described Step S403.

In the event that the release is pressed, first of all, the CPU 1detects the focal distance f of the photography lens in the processingin Step S430, and judgment is made whether the focal distance f is lessthan a predetermined value f0 in the judgment processing in thesubsequent Step S431. In this case, in the event that judgment is madethat the focal distance f is less than the predetermined value f0, theflow proceeds to the processing in the subsequent Step S432, andconversely, in the event that judgment is made that the focal distance fis equal to or greater than the predetermined value f0, the flowproceeds to the processing in Step S433. In this case, adistance-measuring region for wide-angle photography is set in theprocessing in Step S432, and a distance-measuring region fortelephotography is set in the processing in Step S433. That is to say, arange for using subject image data for measuring distance in wide-anglephotography or a range for using subject image data for measuringdistance in telephotography is set in either processing.

Subsequently, the CPU 1 performs focusing and distance measuring for thefocusing in the processing in the subsequent Steps S434 and S435. In theprocessing in the subsequent Step S436, an exposure time period isdetermined based on the luminance information obtained by imagedetection in the above-described Step S403, simultaneously with whichexposure is started.

In the event that the camera is moved during the time period, blurringdue to the movement of hands is caused, so the CPU 1 performs detectionof acceleration in the subsequent Step S437, and obtains theacceleration g due to shock when the release button is pressed, or thelike. That is to say, in the event that the acceleration g is great, apicture is taken with blurring due to the movement of hands even if theexposure time period is short, and conversely, in the event that theexposure time period is long, a picture is taken with blurring due tothe movement of hands as well even if the acceleration g is small. Inorder to make judgment with regard to the relation between theacceleration g and the exposure time period, the CPU 1 counts theexposure time period in the judgment processing in the subsequent StepS438.

In the event that judgment is made that the exposure ends in Step S439,the velocity is obtained based on the obtained acceleration g and theexposure time period tEND in the processing in the subsequent Step S440.The moved amount can be calculated based on the fact that the camera ismoved at the velocity for the time period of tEND, and accordingly, inthe event that the movement exceeds the blurring permission amount ΔYfor the lens, display control is performed so as to give a warning inthe processing in the subsequent Step S441. Conversely, in the eventthat the moved amount does not exceed the blurring permission amount ΔY,the processing ends.

As described above, while only the change in the velocity can beobtained from the acceleration alone, with the present fourthembodiment, first of all, judgment is made that the camera is stationaryat a certain position based on the fact that the output (image signals)from the AF sensor is not changed. Accordingly, accurate judgment can bemade what distance the camera is moved during exposure with this as areference.

With the fourth embodiment, when in distance measuring, a subject imagedata in the range 212 where the peripheral region of a photographyscreen 200 has been eliminated from an entire visual field 211 of the AFsensor is used such that the camera does not make an error in distancemeasuring wherein the distance to non-targeted subject in the peripheralregion of the photography screen 200 is measured, as shown in FIGS. 28Aand 28B (FIG. 28A: wide-angle photography, FIG. 28B: telephotography).On the other hand, when in movement detection, the subject image datawithin the entire visual field 211 of the AF sensor is used so as toobtain as much subject information as possible, as shown in FIGS. 28Cand 28D (FIG. 28C: wide-angle photography, FIG. 28D: telephotography),thereby enabling measurement with high precision to be performed foreither case.

Thus, as described above, with the present embodiment, the AF sensor iseffectively used, that is to say, the AF sensor is not only used fordistance measuring but also used for holding checking, thereby providingan added value to the camera.

Furthermore, with the present embodiment, the signals from theacceleration sensor are used as well, and accordingly, the movement canbe detected in the X direction and the Y direction, the camera canhandle dark scenes and low-contrast scenes, and also the accurate movedamount of the camera can be calculated based on the output from theacceleration sensor using the acceleration sensor as a stillness sensor.

Thus, accurate determination with regard to blurring due to the movementof hands following taking a picture can be made corresponding to thefocal distance of the photography lens, iris, and the shutter speed whentaking a picture.

Furthermore, it is needless to say that application may be made to acamera having a prevention-of-movement function, wherein the position ofthe photography lens is adjusted based on the calculated moved amount.

As described above, with the present fourth embodiment,blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection functions can be realizedwith high precision and a simple configuration, wherein even if userswho do not take blurring due to the movement of hands into considerationuse the camera, the user can hold the camera while observing checkdisplay for displaying the detected blurring due to the movement ofhands, thereby enabling a clear picture with small influence of blurringdue to the movement of hands to be taken. Furthermore, the presentfourth embodiment can provide a camera havingblurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection functions with low costs.Furthermore, the present fourth embodiment can provide a camera havingblurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection functions, which can performdistance measuring and movement detection with high performance bytaking the usage range of the measured subject image data intoconsideration according to the use of the AF sensor.

Next, description will be made regarding a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention.

With the present fifth embodiment, another example is described withregard to the setting method for setting the visual field of the AFsensor according to the focal distance of the photography lens.Furthermore, the determination level whether or not warning is givenaccording to the focal distance of the photography lens is changed.

In a case of giving the user a warning that a picture with blurring dueto the movement of hands could be taken, in the event that movementdetection is performed based on a constant movement judgment valueindependent of the focal distance of the photography lens, a warningcould be given when taking a picture on the short focus side of thefocal distance of the photography lens, even in the event of themovement state which does not cause a picture with blurring due to themovement of hands, which is troublesome for the user.

With the present fifth embodiment, determination level whether or not awarning is given depending on the focal distance of the photography lensis changed, and thus, the camera can give no useless warnings.

Description will be made below regarding the present fifth embodimentwith reference to FIGS. 29A and 29B, and FIGS. 30A through 30C. Othercomponents are the same as with the above-described third embodiment, sodescription will be omitted. Note that, with the present fifthembodiment, the output from the acceleration sensor is used fordetection of the movement of the camera in the vertical direction.However, the present embodiment can be applied to a case wherein themovement of the camera in the vertical direction is detected using thesum of the absolute values of the differences between the subject imagedata, described above, in the same way.

In the same way as with the above-described second embodiment, with thecamera of the present fifth embodiment, when the barrier 39 forprotecting the front lens is opened, first of all, the user performsframing, and does not tightly hold the camera yet, so the camera isgreatly moved, and accordingly, determination by the AF sensor is notvalid. The AF sensor monitors only the narrow region within the screen,and accordingly, quantitative evaluation cannot be performed at all withregard to the great movement of the camera.

Accordingly, first of all, the CPU 1 within the camera 50 of the presentfifth embodiment makes judgment with regard to the output from theacceleration sensor (accelerometer. IC) 100 in the judgment processingin Step S501. Thus, even in the event that the camera receives shock dueto the barrier being opened, or due to the camera held by the user,warning display of holding can be prohibited for a predetermined timeperiod in the processing in the subsequent Step S502. Subsequently, inthe subsequent Step S503, the focal distance f of the photography lensis detected in order to set the image signal range to be used fordetection of blurring due to the movement of hands, and the flowproceeds to Step S504.

In the judgment processing in Step S504, the CPU 1 determines whether ornot the focal distance f detected in the above-described Step S503 isshorter than the predetermined focal distance f0. In the event thatjudgment is made that the focal distance f is shorter than thepredetermined focal distance f0, the image signal usage range forwide-angle photography is set in the processing in the subsequent StepS505. After the movement judgment value for wide-angle photography isset in the processing in the subsequent Step S506, the flow proceeds toStep S509.

Conversely, in the event that judgment is made that the focal distanceis longer, the CPU 1 sets the image signal usage range fortelephotography in the processing in the Step S507. After the movementjudgment value for telephotography is set in the processing in the StepS508, the flow proceeds to Step S509.

Note that the change in the image signal usage range and the movementjudgment value is not restricted to switching into two types of thosefor wide-angle photography or telephotography, but an arrangement may bemade wherein the image signal usage range and the movement judgmentvalue are continuously switched depending on the focal distance of thephotography lens.

Next, the CPU 1 controls so as to perform image detection using the AFsensor in the processing in Step S509. Thus, judgment is made whether ornot image detection is suitable for a holding checking. In the eventthat judgment is made that the detected image exhibits low luminance inthe judgment processing in the subsequent Step S510, the CPU 1 executesa flow of movement judgment by detection of acceleration, not usingimage signals (Steps S515 through S519) following the judgmentprocessing in Step S510.

The processing is such that in a case that the acceleration sensoroutputs a signal, in the event that the output corresponding to theacceleration in the reverse direction is not detected in a predeterminedtime period (Steps S516 and S517), a warning is given (Step S518). Thatis to say, as shown in FIG. 19A, judgment is made whether or not thecamera is being moved at a constant velocity so as to give the user awarning that blurring due to the movement of hands could be caused.

In this case, the user might be intending to take a picture by panning,so an arrangement may be made wherein the LCD in viewfinder is notblinked, and the LEDs 33 around the finder eyepiece unit are onlyblinked as shown in FIG. 4A, in order to give a warning different fromthat in a case of using the AF sensor as well (Step S526).

On the other hand, in the event that judgment is made that the detectedimage does not exhibit low luminance in the judgment processing in theabove-described Step S510, the CPU 1 makes judgment whether or not thedetected image exhibits low contrast in the processing in the subsequentStep S511. In the event that judgment is made that the detected imagedoes not exhibit low contrast, the flow proceeds to Step S520, andconversely in the event that judgment is made that the detected imageexhibits low contrast, the flow proceeds to the following Step S512.

In the processing in Step S512, the CPU 1 compares the focal distance fof the photography lens with the predetermined focal distance f0 again.In the event that judgment is made that the focal distance f of thephotography lens is longer than the predetermined focal distance f0, theusage range for image signals is expanded in the processing in thesubsequent Step S513. Subsequently, judgment is made whether or not thedetected image exhibits low contrast again in the judgment processing inthe following Step S514. In the event that judgment is made that thedetected image exhibits low contrast even using the expanded usagerange, control is performed so as to perform movement judgment bydetection of acceleration (Steps S515 through S519) in the same way asin a case of low luminance.

Following the above-described processing, in the event that the focaldistance of the photography lens is short, the usage range 212 for theimage signals to be used for detection of the blurring due to movementof hands is set to generally the same range as the image signaldetection range 211 within the photography screen 200 as shown in FIG.30A, and in the event that the focal distance of the photography lens islong, the usage range 212 is set to the range within the photographyscreen 200 within the image signal detection range 211 as shown in FIG.30B. Note that in the event that the focal distance of the photographylens is long, and the image signals in the usage range 212 thus setexhibit low contrast, the usage range 212 is expanded up tosubstantially the same range as the image signal detection region 211 asshown in FIG. 30C.

Thus, while blurring due to the movement of hands is detected based onthe information with regard to the subject within the photography screen200 in normal situations, the information with regard to a subject whichis from other than the photography screen 200 is used only in the eventthe detected image exhibits low contrast, i.e., the information withregard to the subject within the photography screen 200 is invalid,thereby preventing an error in detection of blurring due to the movementof hands due to the influence of the subject out of the photographyscreen 200, and thus, accurate detection of blurring due to the movementof hands can be performed.

Subsequently, in the event that image signals are suitable for judgmentwith regard to blurring due to the movement of hands, the CPU 1repeatedly performs detection of images (Steps S521 and S524) at apredetermined intervals (Step S522) in a flow in Step S520 and laterSteps. Subsequently, the offset amount X(n)−X(n−1) between the detectedimage signals is obtained, and judgment is made whether or not theoffset amount X(n)−X(n−1) between the detected image signals is greaterthan the movement judgment value Xc in the judgment processing in thefollowing Step S525. In this case, in the event that judgment is madethat the offset amount is greater than the movement judgment value Xc,the CPU 1 controls the flow to proceed to Step S526, and display controlis performed so as to give a warning that holding is insufficient, inthe processing.

Receiving these warnings, the user recognizes that the he/she hasunwittingly caused the movement of camera, and accordingly, the user canperform countermeasures for blurring due to the movement of hands suchas holding with both hands, or placing the camera on an object or thelike.

Furthermore, the CPU 1 makes judgment whether or not the offset amountX(n)−X(n−1) between the detected image signals is greater than thepredetermined level Xcc which is greater than the aforementioned Xc inthe judgment processing in the following Step S527. In the event thatthe offset amount X(n)−X(n−1) between the detected image signals isgreater than Xcc, it is considered that the user holds the camera from aquite different angle, or changes the frame, and accordingly, the flowreturns to the processing in the aforementioned Step S501. Conversely,in the event that judgment is made that the offset amount X(n)−X(n−1)between the detected image signals is less than Xcc in the judgmentprocessing in the aforementioned Step S527, the CPU 1 controls theprocessing to return to the aforementioned Step S522.

On the other hand, in the event that judgment is made that the offsetamount X(n)−X(n−1) between the detected image signals is equal or lessthan the predetermined level Xc in the judgment processing in theaforementioned Step S525, the flow proceeds to the processing in StepS515 so as to start the flow for movement judgment with detection ofacceleration. Thus, in a case that the acceleration sensor outputs asignal, in the event that the output is not detected corresponding tothe acceleration in the reverse direction in a predetermined time period(Steps S516 and S517), a warning is given (Step S518).

On the other hand, in the event that acceleration is not detected inStep S515, or the acceleration in the reverse direction is not detectedin Step S516, the flow proceeds to Step S518. Thus, the movement of thecamera in the horizontal direction (in the direction of thephotoelectric conversion element array) is detected based on the imagesignals from the AF sensor, and the movement of the camera in thevertical direction (in the direction orthogonal to the direction of thephotoelectric conversion element array) is detected based on the outputfrom the acceleration sensor.

The CPU 1 makes judgment with regard to the release being pressing inthe judgment processing in the subsequent Step S519, and in the eventthat judgment is made that the release is pressed, an exposure sequencefollowing Step S530 is executed, and conversely in the event thatjudgment is made that the release is not pressed, the flow returns tothe aforementioned Step S503.

Upon the release being pressed, first of all, the CPU 1 performsfocusing and distance measuring for the focusing in the processing inSteps S530 and S531. Subsequently, in the processing in Step S532, anexposure time period is determined based on the luminance informationobtained from image detection in the aforementioned Step S509,simultaneously with which exposure is started.

If the camera is vibrated during the exposure time period, blurring dueto the movement of hands is caused, and accordingly, the CPU 1 performsdetection of acceleration in the processing in the subsequent Step S533,whereby the acceleration g due to the shock during pressing of therelease button, or the like, is obtained. That is to say, in a case ofthe acceleration g being great, blurring is caused in the picture evenif the exposure time period is short, and conversely, even in a case ofthe acceleration g being small, blurring is caused in the picture in theevent that the exposure time period is long, as well. In order to makejudgment whether or not blurring is caused, the CPU 1 measures theexposure time period in the judgment processing in the subsequent StepS534.

In the event that judgment is made that exposure ends in Step S535, thevelocity is obtained from the obtained acceleration g and the exposuretime period tEND in the processing in the following Step S536. The movedamount can be calculated from the fact that the camera is vibrated atthe velocity for the time of tEND, and accordingly, in the event thatthe moved amount exceeds the blurring allowance amount ΔY for the lens,display control is performed so as to give a warning in the processingin the subsequent Step S537. Conversely, in the event that the movedamount does not exceed the blurring allowance amount ΔY, the processingends.

While only the change in the velocity can be obtained from only theacceleration as described above, with the present fifth embodiment,first of all, judgment is made whether or not the camera is kept stillat a predetermined position based on the fact that the output (imagesignals) from the AF sensor does not change, and accordingly, accuratedetermination can be made what distance the camera has moved duringexposure based on the output from the AF sensor as a reference.

Accordingly, as described above, with the present embodiment, the AFsensor is effectively used, that is to say, the AF sensor is not onlyused for distance measuring but also used for holding checking, therebyproviding a value added to the camera.

Furthermore, switching of the movement judgment value is performedaccording to the focal distance of the photography lens, therebypreventing unnecessary warning of blurring due to the movement of handswhile maintaining accurate detection of blurring due to the movement ofhands.

Furthermore, with the present embodiment, the signals from theacceleration sensor are used as well, and accordingly, the movement canbe detected in the X direction and the Y direction, the camera canhandle dark scenes and low-contrast scenes, and also the accurate movedamount of the camera can be calculated based on the output from the AFsensor used as a stillness sensor.

Thus, accurate determination with regard to blurring due to the movementof hands after taking a picture can be made corresponding to the focaldistance of the photography lens, iris, and the shutter speed whentaking a picture.

Furthermore, it is needless to say that an application may be made tocameras having a prevention-of-movement functions wherein the positionof the photography lens is adjusted based on the calculated movedamount.

As described above, with the present fifth embodiment, when taking apicture wherein blurring due to the movement of hands is of particularconcern, in a case that the holding check mode is set, in the event thatblurring due to the movement of hands is caused, a warning is given soas to let the user recognize blurring due to the movement of hands,thereby enabling a picture to be taken without failure from blurring dueto the movement of hands. Furthermore, the sensor used as a conventionaldistance-measuring sensor is used as well for the judgment as toblurring due to the movement of hands, thereby providing a camera havinga blurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection function with highreliability without increase in costs.

Furthermore, the present embodiment can provide a camera having ablurring-due-to-movement-of-hands detection function without unnecessarywarning, which is convenient for the user.

Next, description will be made regarding a sixth embodiment of thepresent invention.

With the present sixth embodiment, the movement prevention mode consistsof a movement notifying mode for giving a notice of the movement level,and a movement reduction mode for actively reducing the influence of themovement. Each mode can be independently set.

A notice of the movement level is given between the command ofpreparation for taking a picture and the command of start of taking apicture, and a notice of the level with regard to the image offsetamount is given. Here, the image offset amount is calculated based onthe movement information, the focal distance, and the exposure timeperiod.

With the present sixth embodiment, setting/canceling of the movementprevention mode can be performed, and detection of the movement isstarted prior to the command of preparation of taking a pictureaccording to the setting of the movement prevention mode. Here,detection of the movement is performed using two vibration gyroscopes(angular-velocity sensors).

FIG. 31A is a basic schematic diagram according to the presentinvention. Movement-detection/computation means 301 detects the movementstate of the camera from a known movement detection sensor (e.g.,angular-velocity sensor). The aforementioned movementdetection/computation means 301 performs operations wherein unnecessaryfrequency components such as noise and the like are removed, the movedamount of the generated image is computed based on the detected movementinformation, the focal distance, and the exposure time period, and themovement state is computed and predicted based on the detection movementinformation.

A movement reduction unit 302 performs predetermined movement reductionoperations based on the computation results for the movement computed bythe aforementioned movement detection/computation means 301.

Camera control means (CPU) 303 receives the output from theaforementioned movement detection/computation means 301, and controlsthe operations of giving a notice, and the operations of exposure,described later, and also controls the entire camera which is unshown inFIG. 31A, such as reception of the release SW of the camera and thelike.

The exposure means 304 is a unit for performing exposure operationsaccording to the instructions from the aforementioned camera controlmeans (CPU) 303. Specifically, the exposure means are known componentssuch as a shutter, mirror, and iris.

The notifying means 305 gives a notice as to information with regard tothe image blurring state computed by the movement detection/computationmeans 301 according to the instructions from the camera control means(CPU) 303. Specifically, known display members such as LEDs, LCDs, orthe like, and known audio emitting devices having an audio emittingfunction, are used.

A photography mode setting device 343 sets multiple photography modes(exposure, strobe, and the like) provided to the camera. The “movementnotifying mode” and the “movement reduction mode” according to thepresent embodiment are set by the photography mode setting device 343.

Here, description will be made regarding a specific example of themovement reduction unit with reference to FIGS. 31B through 31D.

FIG. 31B is a diagram which illustrates an example of the camera havingan exposure start determination means 302 a as an example of themovement reduction unit.

The exposure start determination means 302 a makes judgment with regardto a timing at which generated blurring state is small, based on theresults of the prediction computation for the blurring computed by theaforementioned movement detection/computation means 301, and determinesa timing wherein exposure is to be started.

Furthermore, exposure timing control is started from the completion ofmirror up following the command of start of taking a picture, judgmentis made with regard to zero-cross, and start of exposure is permittedbased on the results of blurring prediction.

Thus, exposure is performed in a timing at which generated blurring issmall, by the exposure start determination means 302 a, thereby reducingthe influence of the movement.

The camera control means (CPU) 303 receives the results from theaforementioned movement detection/computation means 301 and the exposurestart determination means 302 a, and performs control of the operationsfor notifying of the movement and exposure operations, described later.

Furthermore, the photography mode setting device 343 can set an“exposure operation mode (timing control mode)” wherein exposure isstarted at a timing determined, as the “movement reduction mode”, by theaforementioned exposure determination means 302 a.

FIG. 31C is a diagram which illustrates an example wherein an opticalsystem driving unit 302 b is provided as the blurring reduction unit.That is to say, the example shows an arrangement wherein the opticalaxis of the photography optical system is changed based on the movementinformation so as to reduce the influence of the movement.

In this case, the optical system driving unit 302 b receives the outputfrom the movement detection/computation means 301, and drives at leastone portion of the photographic optical system so as to reduce blurringdue to the movement of hands. The methods for reducing blurring due tothe movement of hands include arbitrary methods such as the known lenstilt method, decenter method, variable apex angle prism method, and thelike.

FIG. 31D is a diagram which illustrates an example wherein the methodfor reducing the blurring is applied to a camera employing an imagepickup device, for example. In this case, the example includes the imagepickup device driving unit 302 c as a blurring-due-to-movement-of-handsreduction unit. In this case, an image pickup device driving unit 302 cmoves the image pickup device within the plane orthogonal to the opticalaxis according to the output from the movement detection/computationmeans 301 so as to reduce blurring due to the movement of hands. Also,an arrangement may be made wherein the extracting area for the image ischanged according to the output from the movement detection/computationmeans 301 while the image pickup device is not physically moved.

Description will be made below regarding an example shown in FIG. 31B.

First of all, description will be made regarding the operations of theconfiguration shown in FIG. 31B in brief. In FIG. 31B, upon the firstcamera operations (command of preparation for taking a picture) beingperformed by an unshown operational member such as a release button, thecamera control means (CPU) 303 performs operational instructions as tothe movement detection/computation means 301. The results of the imageblurring state computated by the aforementioned movementdetection/computation means 301 are reported as present blurring stateinformation by the notifying means 305.

Next, upon the second camera operations (command for starting taking apicture) being performed, the camera control means (CPU) 303 controlsfor the exposure start determination means 302 a to perform exposurestart determination operations based on the output from theaforementioned movement detection/computation means 301. Subsequently,the camera control means 303 starts exposure operations by the exposuremeans 304 at a timing wherein the movement is small, based on theresults of exposure start determination.

With the present sixth embodiment, the notifying format is changedbetween a case that the notifying operation mode by the aforementionednotifying means 305 is selected and a case that the notifying operationmode by the aforementioned notifying means 305 and the exposureoperation mode (timing control mode) based on the results ofdetermination from the aforementioned exposure start determination means302 a are selected, as a photography mode of the camera, by theaforementioned photography mode setting device 343.

FIG. 32 is a configuration diagram which illustrates principalcomponents of the camera according to the present sixth embodiment.

The movement detection/computation means 301 includes a first movementdetection sensor 311, a second movement detection sensor 312, a firstmovement information sampling unit 313, a second movement informationsampling unit 314, a first movement computation unit 315, a secondmovement computation unit 316, image blurring computation unit 317, afirst blurring prediction computation unit 318, and a second blurringprediction computation unit 319. The aforementioned “first” and “second”corresponds, for example, to the vertical axis (X axis) and thehorizontal axis (Y axis) of the photography screen having aperpendicular directional relation with the photography optical axisdirection.

With the aforementioned first and second movement detection sensors 311and 312, known vibration gyroscopes (angular velocity sensor) or thelike can be employed. With the aforementioned first and second movementinformation sampling units 313 and 314, AD input ports of one-chipmicrocomputers (CPU) or general-purpose AD converters can be employed.The aforementioned first and second movement computation units 315 and316 performs filtering computation or the like such as high-passfiltering and low-pass filtering for removing from the sampled movementstate data noise components (DC components, high-frequency noise)independent of the movement.

The output signals from the two movement computation unit 315 and 316are transmitted to the image blurring computation unit 317, the firstblurring prediction computation unit 318, and the second blurringprediction computation unit 319, and processing described later isperformed. Note that the operations of the movementdetection/computation means 301 are controlled by the movement detectioncontrol unit 307, and the movement detection control unit 307 controlsthe movement detection/computation means 301 to perform movementdetection/computation operations according to the instructions from thecamera control means (CPU) 303 for performing control of the entirecamera.

The image blurring computation unit 317 computes the present imageblurred amount based on the blurring state data from the aforementionedmovement detection/computation means 301, focal distance informationfrom a focal distance information detection sensor 360, and exposuretime period information from an exposure time period computation unit333. The computation results are transmitted to the camera control means(CPU) 303. Furthermore, the present blurring level state is reported(displayed) by a situation display device 308 within the notifying means305 provided within the viewfinder, for example. Note that the notifyingmeans 305 also reports information with regard to taking a picture, suchas an exposure time period, iris value, and the like, besides theaforementioned information with regard to the blurred level.

The first blurring prediction computation unit 318 and the secondblurring prediction computation unit 319 perform prediction with regardto the blurring state based on the output from the aforementionedmovement detection/computation means 301 with predetermined computation.The aforementioned “first” and “second” corresponds to the verticalaxis. (X axis) and the horizontal axis (Y axis) of the photographyscreen having a perpendicular directional relation with the photographyoptical axis direction, for example. The two prediction computationunits 318 and 319 each include blurring information storage units,unshown in FIG. 32, for storing past blurring information. The storedpast blurring information is used for computation for prediction of theblurring. The two prediction computation units 318 and 319 predict aslightly future blurring state with computation based on the storedpresent and past blurring information.

Specifically, a method as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 5-204012. Making description in brief,prediction computation is performed with the following expression.BLx(t+m)=Ka*BLx(t)+Kb*BLx(t−10)+Kc*BLx(t−20)

Here, BLx(t+m) represents the movement state value m [m sec] later thanthe present time in the X-axis direction within the image plane, BLx(t)represents the movement state value at the present time in the X-axisdirection within the image plane, BLx(t−10) represents the movementstate value 10 [m sec] prior to the present time in the X-axis directionwithin the image plane, and BLx(t−20) represents the movement statevalue 20 [m sec] prior to the present time in the X-axis directionwithin the image plane. Also, Ka, Kb, and Kc are coefficients forprediction computation. With the computation, the slightly futuremovement can be predicted based on the movement information with regardto the present time and the two points in the past time. Theaforementioned expression and coefficients can be used for both of themovement corresponding to the X direction and the Y direction within thephotography screen. The results of the prediction computation aretransmitted to the exposure start determination means 302 a.

An exposure start determination unit 320 included in the exposure startdetermination means 302 a makes judgment whether the movement state isgreat or small based on the output signals from the aforementioned firstmovement prediction computation unit 318 and the second movementprediction computation unit 319, i.e., based on predetermined algorithmfrom the prediction results of the movement state. When the movement issmall, an exposure start permission signal is output to the cameracontrol means (CPU) 303.

The exposure start determination means 302 a further includes acomponent for controlling the determination operations and changing themethod for the determination operations in the exposure startdetermination unit 320, according to the instructions from theaforementioned camera control means (CPU) 303. Specifically, theprincipal unit comprises an exposure start determination method changingunit 321, which is a principal unit, a determination parameter settingunit 322, a generated delay time measuring unit 323, and a delaylimitation time setting unit 324.

In the determination parameter setting unit 322, the determinationparameters, which are used in the aforementioned exposure startdetermination unit 320, are set. The parameters which are set by thedetermination parameter setting unit 322 include information with regardto determination permissible time period used for determination whetheror not the movement state becomes zero level both in the two-axisdirections of the X direction and the Y direction within the photographyplane of the camera in a predetermined time period. In the event thatthe determination permissible time period is set to a great value, theexposure start permission is generated with high frequency, andconversely, in the event that the determination permissible time periodis set to a small value, the exposure start permission is generated withlow frequency.

Basically, exposure start determination by the exposure startdetermination unit 320 permits exposure start at a point that themovement is small, however, in the event that the movement does notbecome small, exposure cannot be started. In this case, exposure cannotbe started for a long time, so the user could mistakenly assume that thecamera is malfunctioning.

Accordingly, in general, upon predetermined time elapsing, the controlof the exposure start timing is stopped independent of the movementstate. Furthermore, an arrangement may be made wherein control isperformed such that the exposure start permission is readily given evenin the event the predetermined time does not elapse, i.e., such that thedelay time (release time lag) becomes short. Specifically, thedetermination parameters set by the aforementioned determinationparameter setting unit 322, are changed according to time elapsing froma point in time at which the exposure start timing control has beenstarted.

The aforementioned generated delay time measuring unit 323 measures thetime period wherein the exposure start determination is performed, i.e.,generated delay time. The aforementioned delay limitation time settingunit 324 sets predetermined time information for the aforementionedexposure start determination to end. Thus, in the event that thepredetermined time elapses for performing exposure start determination,the exposure start determination is stopped independent of the outputsignals from the aforementioned first blurring prediction computationunit 318 and the second blurring prediction computation unit 319, i.e.,the prediction results of the blurring, and exposure start (permission)is performed for the camera control means (CPU) 303.

The camera control means (CPU) 303 controls the entire camera. Aphotometry sensor 331 is a unit for measuring the luminance state of thesubject. A film sensitivity detection device 332 is a unit for detectingthe sensitivity of the film loaded into the camera, and the exposuretime computation unit 333 calculates an optimal exposure time periodbased on these detection results. The information is transmitted to thecamera control means (CPU) 303 as information for determining theexposure time period for taking a picture, and to the image blurringcomputation unit 317 for computing the image blurring amount.

A distance-measuring (focus detection) sensor 334 is a sensor formeasuring the distance between the camera and the subject. Thedistance-measuring computation unit (focus computation unit) 335 is aunit for calculating the driving amount of the focusing lens describedlater according to the results of distance-measuring (focus detection).The computation results are transmitted to the aforementioned cameracontrol means (CPU) 303 for driving the focusing lens.

An exposure setting control device (1R) 341 corresponds to the firstrelease button of the camera. An exposure start control device (2R) 342corresponds to the second release button of the camera. Theaforementioned photography mode setting device 343 sets the multiplephotography modes (exposure, strobe, and the like) included in thecamera. The “blurring notifying mode” and “timing control mode”according to the present embodiment are set by the photography modesetting device 343.

That is to say, in this case, the “timing control mode” is prepared asthe “blurring reduction mode”. Furthermore, in the event that both ofthe “blurring notifying mode” and “blurring reduction mode” are set, themode will be referred to as “blurring notifying and reduction mode”.

A zoom setting device 344 gives instructions on the focal distance ofthe photography optical system. The setting/instruction information fromthese means are transmitted to the aforementioned camera control means(CPU) 303 so that the camera can handle each setting operations.

A strobe emission control unit 345 controls the emission amount andemission timing in a strobe emission unit 346 according to theinstructions from the camera control means (CPU) 303.

A shutter driving device 351 is a unit for driving the shutter 306. Amirror driving device 352 is a unit for driving a quick return mirror353. A mirror state detection device 354 is a unit for monitoring theoperational state of the quick return mirror 353. An iris driving device361 is a unit for setting an iris blade 362 to a predetermined state.These devices and members are used for exposure operations of thecamera, and make up the exposure means 304.

A film supplying device 355 is a unit for performing spooling andrewinding of the film loaded into the camera, and comprises an actuator,a spool, and a sprocket. A lens actuator 356 is a unit for driving afocusing lens 357 for focusing, and performs lens driving based on thecomputation results from the aforementioned distance-measuringcomputation unit (focus computation unit) 335.

A variable power lens driving actuator 358 is a unit for driving avariable power lens 359, and performs driving of the aforementionedvariable power lens 359 based on the setting instructions from theaforementioned zoom setting device 344. A focal distance informationdetection sensor 360 detects the present focal distance state based onthe positional situation of the aforementioned variable power lens 359,and is made up of known encoders. The detected information istransmitted to the aforementioned camera control means (CPU) 303 forconfirming the focal distance state, and to the image blurringcomputation unit 317 for the above-described image blurring amountcomputation.

With the operations of the camera having the above-describedconfiguration, description will be made in brief regarding theoperations corresponding to the “blurring prevention function”. First ofall, let us say that, with the photography mode of the camera, either ofthe “blurring notifying mode” or “timing control mode”, or both of thesetwo modes, are set by the aforementioned photography mode setting device343. Thus, the aforementioned movement detection/computation means 301is turned on, and starts the movement detection operations according tothe instructions from the aforementioned movement detection control unit307.

Next, upon a signal from the aforementioned exposure setting controldevice (1R) 341, i.e., a signal from the first release of the camera,being input, AE, AF, lens extending, and the like are performed, wherebysetting operations of the camera are performed for taking a picture. Inthe event that the “blurring notifying mode” is selected, theaforementioned situation display device 308 gives a notice of thegenerated blurring level at the same timing. In this case, the notifyingformats carried out by the notice display device 308 are differentbetween a case that only the “blurring notifying mode” is selected, anda case that both of the “blurring notifying mode” and “timing controlmode” are selected. Description will be made later regarding theaforementioned fact. Note that in the event that only the “timingcontrol mode” is selected, the situation display device 308 does notgive notice display according to the generated blurring situation.

Next, upon a signal from the aforementioned exposure start controldevice (2R) 342, i.e., a signal from the second release of the camera,being input, operations are performed for exposure. With an SLR camera,for example, the aforementioned mirror driving device 352 drives theaforementioned quick return mirror 353 such that the incident light fromthe lens can reach the photography plane (film). Here, theaforementioned mirror state detection device 354 is a device formonitoring the operational state of the aforementioned quick returnmirror 353. The aforementioned iris driving device 361 drives theaforementioned iris blade 362 such that the iris exhibits the requirediris value.

Following the aforementioned mirror and iris being set in predeterminedsituations, the aforementioned shutter driving device 351 drives(operates) the shutter 306 in order to perform exposure operations.Following predetermined exposure time elapsing, and the exposure ending,the aforementioned mirror and iris are driven so as to be moved to thepredetermined positions. Subsequently, the aforementioned film supplyingdevice 355 performs film spooling operations, whereby a series ofexposure operations ends.

Now, in the event that the “timing control mode” is selected as thephotography mode, the exposure start determination function is operated.Specifically, the blurring state is monitored from the completion of themirror operations based on the movement detection operations, and incase judgment is made that the movement becomes small based onpredetermined algorithm, the operations of the aforementioned shutter306 are permitted.

FIG. 33 is an external view of the camera of the present sixthembodiment.

In FIG. 33, reference numeral 401 denotes a camera body, 402 denotes aphotography lens, and 403 denotes a release button. Furthermore, thefirst movement detection sensor 311 and the second movement detectionsensor 312, described in FIG. 32, are disposed at the positions withinthe camera as shown in FIG. 33. Here, the aforementioned first movementdetection sensor 311 is disposed along the X′ axis parallel to the Xaxis in the drawing, and detects the rotational movement angularvelocity (ωX) in the Y-axis direction within the photography plane.Furthermore, the aforementioned second movement detection sensor 312 isdisposed along the Y′ axis parallel to the Y axis in the drawing, anddetects the rotational movement angular velocity (ωY) in the X-axisdirection within the photography plane.

FIG. 34 is a diagram which illustrates a configuration example of thesituation display device 308 provided within the viewfinder of thecamera according to the present sixth embodiment. Also, FIG. 35 is adiagram which illustrates a display example by the blurring notifyingunit 409.

In FIG. 34, reference numeral 404 denotes a viewfinder visual-fieldframe, and reference numeral 405 denotes a distance-measuring frame. Thesituation display device 308 is provided underneath the viewfindervisual-field frame 404. The aforementioned situation display device 308comprises a photography information reporting unit 406 for reportingexposure time, iris value, the presence or absence of strobe emission,and the like, a focusing reporting unit 407 for reporting thefocusing/non-focusing state, a movement mode reporting unit 408 forreporting whether or not the movement mode is set by the photographymode setting device 343, and a blurring level reporting unit 409 forreporting the level of the image blurring state based on the imageblurring amount calculation results from the image blurring computationunit 317 in FIG. 32. Note that an arrangement may be made wherein theaforementioned blurring level reporting unit 409 gives notice display inthree grades as shown in a, b, and c, in FIG. 35, for example.

Now, description will be further made with reference to FIG. 36. FIG. 36is a diagram which indicates the relation between the generated imageblurring amount and the notifying format for each selected photographymode related to the blurring reduction. In this drawing, in the eventthat only the “blurring notifying mode” is selected, and the imageblurring amount calculated from the blurring detection results is 60 μm,the blurring notifying format is shown in FIG. 35- b, for example.Furthermore, in the event that the “blurring notifying mode” and “timingcontrol mode” are selected, and the image blurring amount calculatedfrom the blurring detection results is 60 μm, the blurring notifyingformat is as shown in FIG. 35- a.

That is to say, even with the same blurring amount, the notifying formatis differentiated depending on mode selection wherein only the blurringnotifying mode is selected, or the “timing control mode” is selectedbesides the blurring notifying mode. The notifying format of theblurring is changed according to the size of the image blurring level atthis time. Note that in the event that both modes are not selected, orin the event that only the “timing control mode” is selected, notice ofthe blurring does not given.

FIGS. 37 and 38 are flowcharts for describing the overall operations ofthe camera according to the present sixth embodiment.

In Step S601, initializing of the camera is performed. In Step S602, keyprocessing is performed. This is the processing wherein prior to ONoperation (1R ON) of the exposure setting control means 341, setting ofthe photography mode of the camera, processing corresponding to zoomoperations or the like, are performed. Detailed description regardingthe key processing will be made later with reference to FIGS. 39 through41.

In Step S603, the photometry operations for the luminance of the subjectare performed by the photometry sensor 331. In Step S604, receiving thephotometry results in Step S603 and the results of film sensitivitydetection by the film sensitivity detection device 332, computation forexposure time is performed.

In Step S605, the distance-measuring (focus detection) sensor 334performs distance-measuring (focus detection) operations. In Step S606,receiving the results of distance measuring (focus detection) in StepS605, computation for the distance to the subject is performed by thedistance-measuring computation unit (focus computation unit) 335.

In Step S607, judgment is made whether or not the flag F_BRDSP is 1, orF_BRTIM is 1. Thus, judgment is made whether or not the presentphotography mode is “blurring notifying mode”, or “timing control mode”.In the event that either mode is selected, the flow proceeds to StepS608, otherwise, the flow proceeds to Step S612. Note that descriptionwill be made later regarding to mode setting with reference to FIG. 41.

In Step S608, sampling of blurring information corresponding to theX-axis direction within the image plane is performed. This is theprocessing wherein the second movement information sampling unit 314performs sampling of the output from the second movement detectionsensor 312. In Step S609, movement computation processing (removal ofunnecessary frequency components independent of the movement)corresponding to the X-axis direction within the image plane. Theprocessing is performed by the second movement computation unit 316.

In Step S610, sampling of movement information corresponding to theY-axis direction within the image plane is performed. This is theprocessing wherein the first movement information sampling unit 313performs sampling of the output from the first movement detection sensor311. In Step S611, movement computation processing (removal ofunnecessary frequency components independent of the movement)corresponding to the Y-axis direction within the image plane isperformed. The processing is performed by the first movement computationunit 315.

In Step S612, judgment is made with regard to the presence or absence ofthe operations of 1R (exposure setting control device 341). In the eventthat 1R is not ON, the flow returns to Step S602. Conversely, in theevent 1R is ON, the flow proceeds to Step S613. In Step S613, thephotometry sensor 331 performs photometry operations, and the exposuretime computation unit 333 performs computation for the exposure time(AE).

In Step S614, the distance-measuring (focus detection) sensor 334performs distance-measuring (focus detection) operations, and thedistance-measuring computation unit (focus computation unit) 335performs computation (AF).

In Step S615, the lens driving actuator 356 performs driving of focusinglens 357 (LD).

In Step S616, judgment is made whether or not the LD processing in StepS615 is OK. In the event that judgment is made that the LD processing isNG (no good), judgment is made whether or not 1R is OFF in theprocessing following Step S618.

On the other hand, in the event that the judgment in Step S616 is “YES”,the flow proceeds to Step S617. In Step S617, receiving the result thatthe LD processing is OK, focusing is reported. The report is performedby the focusing reporting unit 407 in FIG. 34. Subsequently, the flowproceeds to Step S621.

In Step S616, judgment is made that the LD processing is NG, notice ofnon-focusing is given in Step S618. The notice is given by the focusingreporting unit 407 in FIG. 34.

In Step S619, judgment is made with regard to the operations of 1R(exposure setting control device 341). In the event that 1R is not OFF,the judgment in Step S619 is repeated until the 1R is OFF.

In Step S620, upon receiving the OFF state of 1R, notifying mode ofnon-focusing, which has been set in Step S618, is OFF.

In Step S621 in FIG. 38, based on the flag F_BRDSP is 1 or not, judgmentis made whether or not the “blurring notifying mode” is set. In theevent that the blurring notifying mode is not set, the flow proceeds toStep S623.

On the other hand, in the event that the blurring notifying mode is set,the flow proceeds to Step S622. In Step S622, the blurring notifyingprocessing is performed. This is the processing wherein the level of thepresent image blurring state is reported based on the detected blurringinformation, focal distance information, and exposure time information.Detailed description will be made later with reference to FIG. 42.

In Step S623, judgment is made whether or not 2R (exposure start controldevice 342) is ON. In the event that 2R is ON, the flow proceeds to StepS628, and conversely, in the event that 2R is OFF, the flow proceeds toStep S624.

In Step S624, judgment is made with regard to the operations of 1R(exposure setting control device 341). In the event that 1R is OFF,focusing/non-focusing reporting mode and image blurring state levelreporting mode are set to OFF in Step S625, and subsequently, the flowreturns to Step S602.

In Step S624, in the event that 1R is ON, the flow proceeds to StepS626. In Step S626, judgment is made whether or not the flag F_BRDSP is“1”, or the flag F_BRTIM is “1”. Thus, judgment is made that the“blurring notifying mode” is set, or the “timing control mode” is set.In the event that both modes are not set, the flow returns to Step S621.

On the other hand, in the event that either mode is set, the flowproceeds to Step S627. In Step S627, judgment is made whether or notpredetermined time has elapsed based on the measured time of thesampling timer for performing the blurring detection at constantintervals, which has been started within the “blurring reportingprocessing” in Step S622. In the event that the predetermined time hasnot elapsed, the judgment in Step S627 is repeated, and conversely, inthe event that the predetermined time has elapsed, the flow returns toStep S621.

In Step S628, receiving the ON operation of 2R, thefocusing/non-focusing state reporting mode and the image blurring statelevel reporting mode are set to OFF.

In Step S629, the mirror driving device 352 performs mirror-up drivingof the quick return mirror 353, and the iris driving device 361 performsdriving of the iris blade 362. While description has been made regardingan operational example of the SLR camera, in a case of an LS camera, thelens driving actuator 356 drives the focusing lens 357.

In Step S630, judgment is made whether or not the driving operations,which has been started in Step S629, ends. The processing is performedby checking the output from the mirror state detection means 354, forexample. The judgment is repeated until the operation ends.

In Step S631, based on the flag F_BRTIM is 1 or not, judgment is madewhether or not the “timing control mode” is set. In the event that thetiming control mode is not set, the flow proceeds to Step S633.

In Step S632, determination is made with regard to exposure start basedon the blurring state. Detailed description will be made later withreference to FIGS. 45A and 45B.

In Step S633, exposure operations are performed by the shutter 306.

In Step S634, the mirror driving device 352 performs mirror-down drivingof the quick return mirror 353, the iris driving device 361 performsiris opening driving of the iris blade 362, and the film supplyingdevice 355 performs driving of spooling of the film. While descriptionhas been made in a case of the SLR camera, in the event of the LScamera, the lens driving actuator 356 performs positioning of thefocusing lens 357 to the initial position.

In Step S635, judgment is made whether or not each driving operation,which has been started in Step S634, ends. The judgment is repeateduntil the operation ends.

In Step S636, judgment is made with regard to ON/OFF of the operation of1R (exposure setting control device 341). In the event that 1R is OFF,the flow returns to Step S602. In the event that 1R is ON, the judgmentis repeated until the 1R becomes OFF.

FIGS. 39 through 41 illustrate flowcharts with regard to a portion forperforming key operation processing.

In Step S701, check of key operations (key scanning) is performed. Thisis the processing wherein checking is performed whether or not anyoperational member of the camera is operated. Note that description willbe made later regarding the zoom operations by the zoom setting device344, and the blurring mode setting operations by the photography modesetting device 343.

In Step S702, judgment is made whether or not any key operation isperformed. In the event that the operation is performed, each processingoperation is performed corresponding to the key operation in Step S703.

In step S704, as the operations of the operational member is performed,a standby timer serving as a standard, which indicates whether or notthe camera is to be set to the standby state (stop of all thefunctions), is initialized and restarted. Subsequently, the flowproceeds to Step S711.

On the other hand, in the event that the any key operation is notperformed in Step S702, the flow proceeds to Step S705, and judgment ismade whether or not predetermined time has elapsed on the aforementionedstandby timer. In the event that the predetermined time has elapsed, theflow proceeds to step S706, and conversely, in the event that thepredetermined time has not elapsed, the flow proceeds to Step S711.

In step S706, prior to the camera being set to the standby state, theinterrupt setting is performed for the camera control means (CPU) 703,thereby enabling returning from the standby state.

In Step S707, the camera is set to the standby state. In Step S708,judgment is made whether or not any camera operation (key operation),which requires returning from the standby state, is generated. In theevent that the operation is not generated, the processing in Step S708is repeated until the key operation is generated. The camera operationsinclude the operations of the power SW of the camera, operations of thephotography mode setting device 343, and the operations of theoperational members such as zoom setting device 344 and the like. Notethat, other processing may be performed with high priority to the flowin the event of particular operations being performed, but detaileddescription will be omitted here.

In the event-that the camera operations are generated, the standby stateof the camera is canceled in Step S709, and the camera is set to thenormal operation state.

In the subsequent Step S710, the interrupt setting which has been set inStep S706 is canceled. Subsequently, the flow proceeds to Step S703.

In the aforementioned Step S711, check of the zoom setting operations bythe zoom setting device 344 is performed.

In Step S712, judgment is made whether or not any zoom setting operationis performed. In the event that the zoom setting operation is performed,the flow proceeds to Step S713, and conversely, in the event that thezoom setting operation is not performed, the flow proceeds to Step S717.

In Step S713, judgment is made whether or not zoom setting operation isto be performed for the telephotographic operations. In the event of thetelephotographic operations, the zoom setting operation is performed forthe telephotographic operations in Step S714. In the event of thewide-angle photographic operations, the zoom setting operation isperformed for the wide-angle photographic operations in Step S715. Theseoperations are performed by a variable power lens driving actuator 338and a variable power lens 359, and the focal distance is detected by afocal distance information detection sensor 360.

In step S716, as the zoom operations is performed, the standby timerserving as a standard, which indicates whether or not the camera is tobe set to the standby state (stop of all the functions), is initializedand restarted.

In Step S717, judgment is made whether or not any setting operation forthe blurring mode is performed by the photography mode setting device343. In the event that any setting operations is not performed, the flowproceeds to RETURN.

In Step S718, as the operations of the photography mode setting device343 is performed, the standby timer serving as a standard, whichindicates whether or not the camera is to be set to the standby state(stop of all the functions), is initialized and restarted.

In Step S719, judgment is made whether or not the operation for theblurring mode, performed by the photography mode setting device 343, ismode cancel operation, i.e., OFF operation (both Qf the blurringnotifying mode and the timing control mode are set to OFF). In the eventthat the OFF operation is performed, the flow proceeds to Step S720, theflags F_BRDSP and F_BRTIM are cleared to zero, the blurring detectionsystem is turned off in Step S721, and the flow proceeds to RETURN. Inthe event that the operation other than the OFF operation is performed(in the event that either of the blurring notifying mode or timingcontrol mode is selected and maintained), the flow proceeds to StepS722.

In Step S722, judgment is made whether or not the blurring notifyingmode is ON state. In the event that the blurring notifying mode is ONstate, the flag F_BRDSP is set to 1 in Step S723, and conversely, in theevent that the blurring notifying mode is OFF state, the flag F_BRDSP iscleared to 0 in Step S724.

As described above, the flag F_BRDSP is a flag which indicates thesetting state for the blurring notifying mode, i.e., the flag of “1”indicates the setting state of the blurring notifying mode, and the flagof “0” indicates the setting cancel state of the blurring notifyingmode.

In Step S725 in FIG. 41, judgment is made whether or not the timingcontrol mode is ON state. In the event that the timing control mode isON state, the flag F_BRTIM is set to 1 in Step S726, and conversely, inthe event that the timing control mode is OFF state, the flag F_BRTIM iscleared to 0 in Step S728.

As described above, the flag F_BRTIM is a flag which indicates thesetting state for the timing control mode, i.e., the flag of “1”indicates the setting state of the timing control mode, and the flag of“0” indicates the setting cancel state of the timing control mode.

In Step S729, judgment is made whether or not both of the blurringnotifying mode and the timing control mode are set, based on theaforementioned flag state. In the event that both modes are selected,the notifying period for the blurring is set to 100 msec, for example,in Step S730, and subsequently, the flow proceeds to Step S733. In thejudgment processing in Step S729, in the event that judgment is madethat both modes are not selected, the flow proceeds to Step S731.

In Step S731, judgment is made whether or not the blurring notifyingmode is selected and the timing control mode is not selected, based onthe above-described flag state. In the event that only the blurringnotifying mode is selected, the blurring notifying period is set to 50mS, for example, in Step S732, and subsequently, the flow proceeds toStep S733. In the event that judgment is made that the aforementionedrelation does not hold (here, in the event that only the timing controlmode is selected), the flow proceeds to the following Step S733.

Here, the period for the notice update is differentiated between StepS730 and Step S732 so that in the event that only the blurring notifyingmode is selected, the update period of notice of the blurring isreduced, and the actual blurring information is more frequently providedas compared with other cases, so as to call the attention of the user.That is to say, reduction of the blurring, which can be effected in thetiming control mode or the like, cannot be effected only by the blurringnotifying mode. Accordingly, in the event that only the blurringnotifying mode is set, notice is given so as to call a further attentionof the user. On the other hand, in the event that the timing controlmode and the blurring notifying mode are set, the effect of reduction ofthe blurring is obtained by the timing control mode. Accordingly, thetolerance of blurring due to the movement of hands is greater than ascompared with only in the blurring notifying mode. Taking this intoconsideration, in the event that both modes are set, the blurring noticeupdate period is set to a longer time.

In Step S733, the movement detection/computation means 301 is activated,and initialization is performed for the unit. The operations arecontrolled by the movement detection control unit 307.

While description has been made regarding the operation example ofpreparation for 1R, sensing by AE/AF functions and blurring detectionoperations (only in the event that the corresponding mode is set) areperformed such that each function can handle the operation of theexposure setting control device 341 (1R) at any given timing.

FIGS. 42 and 43 are flowcharts which indicate the part of performing theblurring notifying processing.

Furthermore, FIG. 44 is a diagram which illustrates a display example ofthe blurring reporting unit 409. In FIG. 44, each circle denotes adisplay element such as LED or the like. The solid circles represent theon state, and the white circles represent the off state. The number ofthe turning-on elements is changed depending on the blurring amount, andaccordingly, display can be made corresponding to the blurring amount,as described more clearly later with reference to the flowchart.

In FIG. 42, in Step S801, the blurring detection period timer isstarted. This is because sampling of the blurring information isperformed at constant cycles. Here, an arrangement may be made whereinthe time period of the “constant cycle” is 2 mS, for example. Note thatcheck of the timer thus started is performed in Step S627 in FIG. 38.

In Step S802, sampling of the blurring information corresponding to theX-axis direction within the image plane is performed. This is theprocessing wherein sampling of the output from the second movementsensor 312 is performed by the second movement information sampling unit314.

In Step S803, the movement computation processing (removal ofunnecessary frequency components independent of the movement)corresponding to the X-axis direction within the image plane isperformed. The processing is performed by the second movementcomputation unit 316.

In Step S804, sampling of the blurring information corresponding to theY-axis direction within the image plane is performed. This is theprocessing wherein sampling of the output from the first movementdetection sensor 311 is performed by the first movement informationsampling unit 313.

In Step S805, the movement computation processing (removal ofunnecessary frequency components independent of the blurring)corresponding to the Y-axis direction within the image plane isperformed. The processing is performed by the first movement computationunit 315.

In Step S806, judgment is made whether or not the notice update periodfor the image blurring level has elapsed. In the event that the noticeupdate period has elapsed, the flow proceeds to Step S807, andconversely, in the event that the notice update period has not elapsed,the flow proceeds to RETURN. The reason of making judgment of the noticeupdate period is that in the event that notice of the blurring levelcorresponding to the blurring state is given in real time, the flickerof the notice (display) might become annoying, which could betroublesome for the user observing the viewfinder image. The noticeupdate period may be set to 100 mS, for example. That is to say, noticeupdate of the blurring level is performed one time for each period of100 mS. Note that an arrangement may be made wherein the timing at whichthe timer for checking time is to be started is set to a timingimmediately following the processing in Step S811 described later, orthe processing in Step S617 in FIG. 37 (only in the event that theblurring notifying mode is set).

In Step S807, the exposure time computation unit 333 reads out theexposure time information, and the focal-distance information detectionsensor 360 reads out the focal-distance information, in order to performcomputation of image blurring amount.

In Step S808, computation of the image blurring amount is performed. Theimage blurring amount is roughly calculated as the multiplication of theblurring (angular velocity) information ωX and ωY [DEG/SEC],focal-distance information f [m], and the exposure time information Texp[SEC]. While a method wherein the image blurring amount in the Xdirection and Y direction within the image plane are calculated,respectively, and the image blurring amount is finally calculated usingeach result in a vector manner is known as a computation method, othermethods can be employed. An example of the computation expressions willbe indicated below.BX[m]=ωY[DEG/SEC]×f[m]×Texp[SEC]BY[m]=ωX[DEG/SEC]×f[m]×Texp[SEC]BZ[m]=SQRT(BX×BX+BY×BY)

In Step S809 in FIG. 43, judgment is made based on the flags whether ornot both of the blurring notifying mode and the timing control mode areselected. In the event that both modes are selected, the flow proceedsto Step S810, and conversely, in the event that both modes are notselected, the flow proceeds to Step S817.

In Step S810, judgment is made whether or not the image blurring amountBZ calculated in Step S808 is 50 μm or less. In the event that BZ isequal to or less than 50 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S811, theblurring notice pattern A is selected, and notice is given (note that,in this case, notifying by turning-on is not given due to the blurringbeing small). Subsequently, the flow proceeds to Step S824. In the eventthat BZ is not equal to or less than 50 μm, the flow proceeds to StepS812.

In Step S812, judgment is made whether or not the image blurring amountBZ calculated in Step S808 is 100 μm or less. In the event that BZ isequal to or less than 100 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S813, theblurring notifying pattern B is selected, notice is given, and the flowproceeds to Step S824. In the event that BZ is not equal to or less than100 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S814.

In Step S814, judgment is made whether or not the image blurring amountBZ calculated in Step S808 is 150 μm or less. In the event that BZ isequal to or less than 150 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S815, theblurring notifying pattern C is selected, notice is given, and the flowproceeds to Step S824. In the event that BZ is not equal to or less than150 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S816, the blurring notifying pattern Dis selected, notice is given, and subsequently, the flow proceeds toStep S824.

On the other hand, in Step S817, judgment is made whether or not theimage blurring amount BZ calculated in Step S808 is 25 μm or less. Inthe event that BZ is equal to or less than 25 μm, the flow proceeds toStep S818. In Step S818, the blurring notifying pattern A is selected,notice is given (note that, in this case, notifying by turning-on is notgiven due to the movement being small), and subsequently, the flowproceeds to Step S824. In the event that BZ is not equal to or less than25 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S819.

In Step S819, judgment is made whether or not the image blurring amountBZ calculated in Step S808 is 50 μm or less. In the event that BZ isequal to or less than 50 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S820, theblurring notifying pattern B is selected, notice is given, and the flowproceeds to Step S824. In the event that BZ is not equal to or less than50 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S821.

In Step S821, judgment is made whether or not the image blurring amountBZ calculated in Step S808 is 100 μm or less. In the event that BZ isequal to or less than 100 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S822, theblurring notifying pattern C is selected, notice is given, and the flowproceeds to Step S824. In the event that BZ is not equal to or less than100 μm, the flow proceeds to Step S823, the blurring notifying pattern Dis selected, notice is given, and subsequently, the flow proceeds toStep S824.

The reason that determination value is differentiated between Steps S810through S816 and Steps S817 through S823 is that in the event the onlythe blurring notifying mode is selected, notice is further given ascompared with a case that the timing control mode is also selectedbesides the blurring notifying mode. Thus, the meaning of “blurringwarning/notification” is further emphasized, thereby calling attentionof the user.

In Step S824, the blurring notice update period timer is reset andrestarted. Thus, the blurring level notifying operation is performed foreach constant cycle.

FIGS. 45A and 45B are flowcharts which indicate exposure startdetermination in the present sixth embodiment. In Step S901, RAM(counters) and flags, which are used for the following determinationwith regard to exposure start, are cleared (initial setting).Specifically, the blurring prediction computation data accumulationcounter B_COUNTA is set to 0, the generated delay time counter B_COUNTBis set to 0, the X-direction blurring state flag F_XFLAG is set to 0,the Y-direction blurring state flag F_YFLAG is set to 0, and the firstfocal plane shutter run start permission flag F_GOFLAG is set to 0. Withthe X-direction blurring state flag F_XFLAG and the Y-direction blurringstate flag F_YFLAG, the flag of “0” represents presence of the blurring,and the flag of “1” represents the absence of the blurring. On the otherhand, with the first focal plane shutter run start permission flagF_GOFLAG, in the event that the flag is set to “0”, permission is notgiven, and conversely, in the event the flag is set to “1”, permissionis given.

In Step S902, the movement detection period timer is started. This isfor having sampling of the movement information perform for eachconstant cycle.

In Step S903, sampling of the movement information corresponding to theX-axis direction within the image plane is performed. With theprocessing, sampling of the output from the second movement detectionsensor 312 is performed by the second movement information sampling unit314.

In Step S904, sampling of the movement information corresponding to theY-axis direction within the image plane is performed. With theprocessing, sampling of the output from the first movement detectionsensor 311 is performed by the first movement information sampling unit313.

In Step S905, the computation processing for the movement correspondingto the X-axis direction within the image plane is performed. The secondmovement computation unit 316 performs the processing.

In Step S906, the computation processing for the movement correspondingto the Y-axis direction within the image plane is performed. The firstmovement computation unit 315 performs the processing.

In Step S907, the movement information corresponding to the X-axisdirection within the image plane is stored. The processing is performedwithin the second movement prediction computation unit 319.

In Step S908, the movement information corresponding to the Y-axisdirection within the image plane is stored. The processing is performedwithin the first movement prediction computation unit 318.

In Step S909, the value of the counter B_COUNTA is incremented.

In Step S910, judgment is made whether or not the value of theaforementioned counter is equal to or greater than a predeterminedvalue. That is to say, judgment can be made whether or not movementinformation of a predetermined value (time) or more is stored within thesecond movement prediction computation unit 319 and the first movementprediction computation unit 318. In the event that movement informationof the predetermined value or more is stored therein, the flow proceedsto Step S911. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to Step 5915 described later.

In Step S911, computation for prediction of the movement correspondingto the X-axis direction within the image plane is performed. Theprocessing is performed by the second blurring prediction computationunit 319.

In Step S912, computation for prediction of the movement correspondingto the Y-axis direction within the image plane is performed. Theprocessing is performed by the first blurring prediction computationunit 318.

In Step S913, zero-cross judgment processing is performed. Detaileddescription will be made later with reference to FIG. 46. The processingis performed by the exposure start determination unit 320, and in theevent that determination is made that exposure is to be started, theflag F_GOFLAG is set to “1”.

In Step S914, judgment is made whether or not the flag F_GOFLAG is “1”.In the event that the flag is “1”, the flow proceeds to RETURN so as tostart exposure. In the event that the flag is not “1”, the flow proceedsto Step S915. In Step S915, the value of the counter B_COUNTB isincremented. Assuming the processing period as a constant time periodfrom Step S902 up to Step S921 described later, the same effect isobtained as with a case wherein the generated delay time measuring unit323 measures time.

In Step S916, judgment is made whether or not the value of the counterB_COUNTB is 150 or more. With the judgment, assuming the period for aseries of processing from Step S902 up to Step S921 described later as 2mS, the same effect is obtained as with a case wherein judgment is madewhether or not time of 300 mS has elapsed from the start of the exposurestart determination operation. The information with regard to time isset in the delay limitation time setting unit 324. Here, in the eventthat judgment is made that the predetermined time has elapsed (delaylimitation has been detected, or exposure start determination operationis to end), the flow proceeds to RETURN, and exposure is performed. Inthe event that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the flow proceedsto Step S918. Note that while description has been made in the presentembodiment with the limitation value as “150”, the limitation value isnot restricted to the value (time), other values (time) may be used.

In Step S918, judgment is made whether or not the value of the counterB_COUNTB is 75 or more. With the judgment, assuming the period for aseries of processing from Step 5902 up to Step 5921 described later as 2mS, the same effect is obtained as with a case wherein judgment is madewhether or not time of 150 mS has elapsed from the start of the exposurestart determination operation. Here, in the event that the time has notelapsed, the flow proceeds to Step 5921 described later, and conversely,in the event that the time has elapsed, the flow proceeds to Step 5919.Note that while description has been made in the present embodiment withthe limitation value as “75”, the limitation value is not restricted tothe value (time), other values (time) may be used.

In Step S919, judgment is made whether or not the value of the counterB_COUNTB is 75. In the event that the value is 75, the flow proceeds toStep S920 described later, otherwise, the flow proceeds to Step S921.The judgment processing is included here so as to change the exposurestart determination permissible time only one time in Step S920described later.

In Step S920, the exposure start determination permissible time ischanged. With the processing, the determination permissible timeinformation, which has been set for the determination parameter settingunit 322, is changed (increased). The processing is intended to obtainan effect wherein exposure start permission is readily given whileperforming reduction of the blurring by the exposure start timingcontrol, whereby reducing the generated delay time as possible.

In Step S921, judgment is made whether or not predetermined time haselapsed on the blurring detection period timer which has started in StepS902. In the event that the predetermined time has elapsed, the flowreturns to Step S902, and a series of processing described above withreference to FIG. 45 is repeatedly performed. The timer period may beset to 2 mS or 1 mS, for example.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart for describing zero-cross judgment.

The zero-cross judgment is the processing wherein in the event thateither of blurring information corresponding to the X-axis direction orthe Y-axis direction exhibits crossing of the zero level state (velocityof zero), and subsequently the other exhibits crossing of the zero levelstate in the same way, exposure start permission is given.

FIG. 46, first of all, zero-cross judgment is started. In Step S1001,judgment is made whether or not the predicted blurring state value (X)exhibits crossing of the zero level. With the processing, the blurringstate value is obtained based on the output from the second blurringprediction computation unit 319. With the processing, judgment is madewhether or not the blurring state value exhibits crossing of the +0level in the vertical axis described later with reference to FIG. 47,i.e., the blurring angular velocity becomes zero. In the event that thepredicted blurring state value does not exhibit crossing of the zerolevel, the flow proceeds to Step S1005 described later.

In the event that the predicted blurring state value exhibits crossingof the zero level, the X-direction blurring state flag F_XFLAG is set to“1” in Step S1002.

In Step S1003, judgment is made whether or not the Y-direction blurringstate flag F_YGLAG is “0”, i.e., whether or not the predicted blurringstate value (Y) exhibits crossing of the zero (within the exposure startdetermination permissible time described later). In the event that thecrossing is not detected, i.e., the flag is “0”, the flow proceeds toStep S1004. Conversely, In the event that the flag is not “0”, i.e.,crossing is detected, so the flag is “1”, the flow proceeds to StepS1014 described later.

In Step S1004, as the predicted blurring state value (Y) is exhibitedcrossing of the zero level, the timer for exposure start determinationis reset and started.

In Step S1005, judgment is made whether or not the predicted blurringstate value (Y) exhibits crossing of the zero level. With theprocessing, the blurring state value is obtained based on the outputfrom the first blurring prediction computation unit 318. With theprocessing, judgment is made whether or not the blurring state valueexhibits crossing of the ±0 level in the vertical axis described laterwith reference to FIG. 47, i.e., the blurring angular velocity becomeszero. In the event that the predicted blurring state value does notexhibit crossing of the zero level, the flow proceeds to Step S1009described later.

In the event that the predicted blurring state value exhibits crossingof the zero level, the Y-direction blurring state flag F_YFLAG is set to“1” in Step S1006.

In the following Step S1007, judgment is made whether or not theX-direction blurring state flag F_XFLAG is “0”, i.e., whether or not thepredicted blurring state value (X) exhibits crossing of the zero (withinthe exposure start determination permissible time At described later).In the event that the flag is not “0”, i.e., crossing is detected, sothe flag is “1”, the flow proceeds to Step S1014 described later. In theevent that the flag is “0”, the flow proceeds to Step S1008.

In Step S1008, as the predicted blurring state value (X) is exhibitedcrossing of the zero level, the timer for exposure start determinationis reset and started.

In Step S1009, the exposure start determination permissible timeinformation, which has been set in the determination parameter settingunit 322, is read out.

In Step S1010, judgment is made whether or not the time on the timer,which has been started in Step S1004 or in Step S1008, exhibits timeequal to or greater than the exposure start determination permissibletime read out. That is to say, with the judgment, the same effect isobtained as with in a case that judgment is made whether or not both ofthe predicted blurring state values (X) and (Y) have exhibited crossingof the zero level in the exposure start determination permissible time.Here, in the event that the exposure start determination permissibletime has elapsed, the flow proceeds to RETURN. In the event thatelapsing time exhibits the exposure start determination permissible timeor more, judgment is made that the movement is great, and accordingly,the movement direction state flags F_XFLAG and F_YFLAG in the X and Ydirections are set to “0” in Steps S1011 and S1012. The state representsa state wherein the movement does not exhibit crossing of the zero.

In Step S1013, the timer which has been started in Step S1004 or StepS1008 are stopped. This is because the present state is moving away fromthe state wherein the movement is small, or the exposure startdetermination ends as described later.

Next, description will be made regarding a case that tbe Y-directionflag F_YFLAG is “1” in Step S1003, and a case that X-direction flagF_XFLAG is “1” in Step S1007. In the event that such judgment is made,both of the predicted blurring state values corresponding to the Xdirection and the Y direction exhibit crossing of the zero level in theexposure start determination permissible time, and accordingly,determination is made that exposure is to be started. Thus, the firstfocal plane shutter run start permission flag F_GOFLAG is set to “1” inStep S1014. Thus, permission of exposure start is given in Step S624 inFIG. 38. Subsequently, the flow proceeds to Step 1013.

FIG. 47 indicates an operation example of the zero-cross judgmentdescribed with reference to FIG. 46, with waveforms, wherein theblurring state value ωX in the X-axis direction in the image plane andthe blurring state value ωY in the Y-axis direction in the image planeare plotted on the same plane. In the drawing, the vertical axisrepresents the angular velocity of the movement [DEG/SEC], and thehorizontal axis represents the time t.

In FIG. 47, prior to the timing T, ωX and ωY have exhibited crossing ofthe ±0 level one time each, but the other has not exhibited crossing ofthe ±0 level in the time width Δt, i.e., exposure start determinationpermissible time, and accordingly, permission of exposure start is notgiven. However, the conditions are satisfied at the time T, the flagF_GOFLAG is set to “1”.

With the above-described embodiment, the notifying format is changeddepending on the selected mode, i.e., a case that the notifyingoperation mode is selected, or a case that the notifying operation modeand the exposure operation mode are selected. For example, in the eventthat only the notifying is performed based on the results of themovement detection prior to the command of exposure start as acountermeasure for the movement, notifying of the movement prior to theexposure start command is given with higher detection sensitivity tomovement or with a shorter update period so as to call attention of theuser for the actual exposure operations, as compared with in a case thatrelease timing control is performed.

Thus, even in the event that release timing control is not performed,the possibility that a picture with blurring due to the movement ofhands is taken can be reduced.

With the present embodiment, the notifying format is changed dependingon the selected mode, i.e., a case that the notifying operation mode isselected, or a case that the notifying operation mode and the exposureoperation mode are selected, and thus, even in the event that therelease timing control is not performed, the possibility that a picturewith blurring due to the movement of hands is taken can be reduced.

Note that the present invention encompasses modifications or the like,formed of combinations of parts of the above-described embodiments, orthe like, as well.

In this invention, it is apparent that working modes different in a widerange can be formed on this basis of this invention without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. This invention is notrestricted by any specific embodiment except being limited by theappended claims.

1. A camera comprising: an AF sensor for outputting subject image data;a distance measuring unit for determining a distance between the subjectand the camera using subject image data of a first usage range from theAF sensor for distance measuring; and a blur detecting unit fordetecting blurring using subject image data outputs of a second usagerange from the AF sensor for blur detection, wherein the first usagerange is differentiated from the second usage range.
 2. The cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein the second usage range is wider than thefirst usage range.
 3. The camera according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a photography lens; and a controller for performing usagerange control, wherein for the distance measuring, the controllercontrols a setting of the first usage range according to the photographylens and the focal distance of the photography lens, and for the blurdetection, the controller sets the second usage range to be a constantindependent of the focal distance of the photography lens.
 4. The cameraaccording to claim 1, further comprising a display unit, wherein in theevent that the blur detecting unit detects a level of blurring which isgreater than a predetermined value, the display unit displays anindication of the detected occurrence of blurring.
 5. A cameracomprising: a sensor array wherein a plurality of photo-receivingelements are arrayed; a focusing unit for performing focusing of thecamera based on the subject image data in a first range of the sensorarray; and a blurring detection unit for detecting blurring based on thesubject image data in a second range of the sensor array; wherein thefirst range and the second range are different.
 6. The camera accordingto claim 5, wherein the second range is wider than the first range. 7.The camera according to claim 5, wherein the first range is switchedaccording to the focal distance of the photography lens, and the secondrange is constant all at times.
 8. A camera comprising: an AF sensor foroutputting subject image data; and a control unit for selecting theusage range of the subject image data used for detection of blurringaccording to the focal distance of the photography lens, in the eventthat comparison is made between subject image data output from the AFsensor in predetermined intervals, and detection of blurring isperformed based on the image offset amount from the subject image data.9. The camera according to claim 8, wherein the control unit switchesthe blurring judgment value according to the focal distance of thephotography lens, in the event that comparison is made between subjectimage data output from the AF sensor at predetermined intervals, anddetection of blurring is performed based on the image offset amount fromthe subject image data.
 10. The camera according to claim 9, wherein inthe event that the focal distance of the photography lens is on theshort focus side, the movement judgment value is set to a value with lowsensitivity for the detection of the movement, and in the event that thefocal distance of the photography lens is on the long focus side, themovement judgment value is set to a value with high sensitivity for thedetection of the movement.
 11. The camera according to claim 8, whereinin a case that the focal distance of the photography lens is equal to orgreater than a predetermined focal distance, in the event that thecontrast is low within the usage range of the subject image data usedfor detection of blurring, the usage range of the subject image data isexpanded so as to perform detection of blurring.
 12. A cameracomprising: a photography lens; a sensor array wherein a plurality ofphoto-receiving elements are arrayed; a focusing unit for performingfocusing of the camera based on subject image data output from thesensor array; and a blurring detection unit for performing detection ofblurring based on the subject image data in a predetermined range of thesensor array; wherein the predetermined range is changed according tothe focal distance of the photography lens.
 13. The camera according toclaim 12, further comprising a judgment unit for making judgment whetheror not the subject is low in contrast based on the subject image data,wherein in the event that judgment is made that the subject is low incontrast, the predetermined range is expanded so as to perform detectionof blurring.
 14. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the blurdetecting unit detects blurring due to hand movement.
 15. The cameraaccording to claim 14, wherein the blur detecting unit detects blurringusing an image offset amount from a comparison between subject imagedata outputs of the AF sensor for blur detection.
 16. A method offocusing and detecting blurring in a camera, comprising steps of:performing focusing of the camera based on subject image data in a firstrange of a sensor array, said sensor array including a plurality ofphoto-receiving elements; and detecting blurring based on subject imagedata in a second range, said second range being different from saidfirst range of said sensor array.
 17. The method of focusing anddetecting blurring in a camera according to claim 16, furthercomprising: when a contrast of the subject image data of the sensorarray is low, expanding the second range to perform detection ofblurring.
 18. The method of focusing and detecting blurring in a cameraaccording to claim 16, wherein the second range is wider than the firstrange.